CHAPTER VIII

1. Tâi Ying-chih said to Mencius, ＇I am not able at present and immediately to do with the levying of a tithe only, and abolishing the duties charged at the passes and in the markets. With your leave I will lighten, however, both the tax and the duties, until next year, and will then make an end of them. What do you think of such a course?＇

2. Mencius said, ＇Here is a man, who every day appropriates some of his neighbour＇s strayed fowls.Some one says to him, "Such is not the way of a good man;" and he replies, "With your leave I will diminish my appropriations, and will take only one fowl a month, until next year, when I will make an end of the practice."

3. ＇If you know that the thing is unrighteous, then use all despatch in putting an end to it:— why wait till next year?＇