Knowing When to Take, Give, or Die
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English translation
Original Chinese text
可以取,可以无取,取伤廉。可以与,可以无与,与伤惠。可以死,可以无死,死伤勇。
English translation
Sometimes one may take something, and sometimes one may refrain; to take it when one could refrain damages one’s integrity. Sometimes one may give, and sometimes one may withhold; giving when one could withhold diminishes the virtue of generosity. Sometimes one may die, and sometimes one may live; choosing death when it is unnecessary diminishes the measure of courage.