The Tithe and Market Levies

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English translation

Original Chinese text

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

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?”

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