鄧析過，下車為教之曰：「為機，重其後，輕其前，命曰橋。
They kept at it all day long, remaining in the same spot.
終日溉韭百區，不倦。
Deng Xi17 passed by and, observing this, descended from his carriage in order to instruct them, saying, “You should construct a machine, heavy in back and light in front.
」五丈夫曰：「吾師言曰：『有機知之巧，必有機知之敗。
It’s called a jiegao.
』我非不知也，不欲為也。
Then you can irrigate your scallion field all day long in a hundred different places without feeling the slightest weariness.” One of the five replied: “My teacher says, ‘Ingenuity may give rise to bright ideas, but it will just as surely give rise to failure.’ It is not that we don’t know about the thing you suggest; it’s just that we don’t wish to do it.
子其往矣，我一心溉之，不知改已。
Be gone, sir; we will continue to concentrate on watering our field.
」鄧析去，行數十里，顏色不悅懌，自病。
We know nothing of changing our ways.” Deng Xi left.
弟子曰：「是何人也？
Even after he had gone a dozen or so miles, his face still showed displeasure, as if something were gnawing at his heart.
而恨我君，請為君殺之。
A disciple said, “What sort of man was he, that he should have caused my master to feel regret?
」鄧析曰：「釋之。
Allow me, sir, to kill him.” “Let the matter rest,” replied Deng Xi.
是所謂真人者也，可令守國。」
“He is what people call a ‘perfectly realized man.’19 He could be used to oversee a state.