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Mohism -> Mozi -> Book 3 -> Identification with the Superior I -> 1

墨子Mozi said:
In the beginning of human life,
when there was yet no law and government,
』。 the custom was "everybody according to his own idea."
Accordingly each man had his own idea,
two men had two different ideas
and ten men had ten different ideas
-- the more people
the more different notions.
And everybody approved of his own view
and disapproved the views of others,
and so arose mutual disapproval among men.
As a result, father and son and elder and younger brothers became enemies and were estranged from each other,
since they were unable to reach any agreement.
天下Everybody worked for the disadvantage of the others with water, fire, and poison.
Surplus energy was not spent for mutual aid;
1 surplus goods were allowed to rot without sharing;
excellent teachings (Dao) were kept secret and not revealed.
天下The disorder in the (human) world
could be compared to that among birds and beasts.

1. 臭 : Originally read: "列". Corrected by 孫詒讓《墨子閒詁》


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