Innate Ability and Knowledge

Contents

Text

English translation

Original Chinese text

English translation

Mencius said, “What people can do without having learned it is their innate ability; what they know without having reasoned it out is their innate understanding.”

Original Chinese text

English translation

“Even very young children know to love their parents; as they grow older, they know to respect their elder brothers.”

Original Chinese text

English translation

“Loving one’s family is benevolence; respecting elders is righteousness. There is nothing else to it: these principles are extended throughout the world.”

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