Deference and Frugality

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孟（mèng）子（zǐ）曰（yuē）：（）“（）恭（gōng）者（zhě）不（bù）侮（wǔ）人（rén），（）俭（jiǎn）者（zhě）不（bù）夺（duó）人（rén）。（）侮（wǔ）夺（duó）人（rén）之（zhī）君（jūn），（）惟（wéi）恐（kǒng）不（bù）顺（shùn）焉（yān），（）恶（wū）得（dé）为（wéi）恭（gōng）俭（jiǎn）？（）恭（gōng）俭（jiǎn）岂（qǐ）可（kě）以（yǐ）声（shēng）音（yīn）笑（xiào）貌（mào）为（wéi）哉（zāi）？（）”（）

Mencius said, “The respectful do not insult others; the restrained do not take from others. A ruler who insults and plunders others fears only that they will not submit. How could such a ruler be respectful and restrained? Can respect and restraint be performed merely through one’s voice, smile, and expression?”

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Deference and Frugality

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