經說(上)

Cause: A minor cause is one whose presence does not necessarily produce the effect, but whose absence necessarily prevents it -- like having a point as part of a body. A major cause is one whose presence necessarily produces the effect, as seeing necessarily constitutes perception. Part: like one of two, or the point of a ruler. The capacity to know: that by which one knows, and necessarily knows -- like sight. Deliberation: using one's knowledge to seek something, but not necessarily obtaining it -- like glancing sideways. Knowledge: using one's knowledge to encounter things and being able to describe their appearance -- like seeing.

Benevolence: loving oneself not for the sake of using oneself -- unlike loving a horse. This is as clear as sight. Righteousness: having the aspiration to consider the world as one's charge, and being able to benefit it, though not necessarily being employed. Ritual propriety: the honored have official titles, the lowly have personal names, yet both have reverence and neglect; the ranks involve different assessments. Filial devotion: considering one's parents as one's charge and being able to benefit them, though not necessarily succeeding. Trustworthiness: it lies not in whether one's words are correct, but in making someone look at a city wall and find gold.

Duration: past and present, morning and evening. Space: east and west, home, south and north. Limit: if somewhere a foot cannot fit, there is a limit; if nowhere is a foot unable to fit, there is no limit -- that is infinity. Completeness: simply stopping movement. Beginning: time either has duration or has no duration; the beginning is when there is no prior duration. Transformation: like a frog becoming a quail. Point: that which has no equal part. Circle: drawn by a compass from a support point. Square: shown by a set-square from a support point. Double: two feet from one foot -- simply removing one.