The Tithe and Market Levies
Text
English translation
Original Chinese text
戴盈之曰:“什一,去关市之征,今兹未能。请轻之,以待来年,然后已,何如?”
English translation
Dai Yingzhi said, “We cannot yet reduce taxation to a one-tenth rate and abolish levies at passes and markets this year. What if we ease these levies for now, then end them next year?”
Original Chinese text
孟子曰:“今有人日攘其邻之鸡者,或告之曰:‘是非君子之道。’曰:‘请损之,月攘一鸡;以待来年,然后已。’如知其非义,斯速已矣,何待来年?”
English translation
Mencius said, “Suppose a man steals one of his neighbor’s chickens every day. Someone tells him, ‘That is no way for a gentleman to act.’ He replies, ‘Let me reduce it to one chicken a month, and stop next year.’ If he knows it is wrong, he should stop at once. Why wait until next year?”