说苑/孔子曰：「中人之情，有餘則侈，不足則儉，無禁則淫，無度則失，縱欲則敗。

孔子曰：「中人之情，有餘則侈，不足則儉，無禁則淫，無度則失，縱欲則敗。

Eric Henry

“People of the middling sort,” said Kongzi, “will become extravagant in times of plenty and economical when faced with scarcity.

飲食有量，衣服有節，宮室有度，畜聚有數，車器有限，以防亂之源也。

Eric Henry

When there are no prohibitions, they will engage in excesses; when there are no standards of behavior, they will give themselves over to enjoyment; and, on giving rein to their desires, they will come to grief.

故夫度量不可不明也，善欲不可不聽也。」

Eric Henry

Dressing with discrimination, exercising moderation in choosing places to dwell in, adhering to quotas in acquiring things, and placing limits on one’s use of vehicles and implements—these behaviors are used to guard against the encroachment of disorder.

Eric Henry

Thus, one cannot but be clear-sighted in determining amounts and cannot but be attentive to wise teachings.