是以

是以

1. (literary) therefore; thus; so

   • 君子之於禽獸也，見其生，不忍見其死；聞其聲，不忍食其肉。是以君子遠庖廚也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     君子之于禽兽也，见其生，不忍见其死；闻其声，不忍食其肉。是以君子远庖厨也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Mencius, c. 4^th century BCE

     Jūnzǐ zhī yú qínshòu yě, jiàn qí shēng, bùrěn jiàn qí sǐ; wén qí shēng, bù rěn shí qí ròu. Shìyǐ jūnzǐ yuǎn páochú yě. [Pinyin]

     So is the superior man affected towards animals, that, having seen them alive, he cannot bear to see them die; having heard their dying cries, he cannot bear to eat their flesh. Therefore he keeps away from his slaughter-house and cook-room.

   • 故有無相生，難易相成，長短相較，高下相傾，音聲相和，前後相隨。是以聖人處無為之事，行不言之教。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     故有无相生，难易相成，长短相较，高下相倾，音声相和，前后相随。是以圣人处无为之事，行不言之教。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Tao Te Ching, 4^th century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Gù yǒu wú xiàng shēng, nán yì xiàng chéng, cháng duǎn xiàng jiào, gāo xià xiàng qīng, yīn shēng xiàng hé, qián hòu xiàng suí. Shìyǐ shèngrén chù wúwéi zhī shì, xíng bùyánzhījiào. [Pinyin]

     So it is that existence and non-existence give birth the one to (the idea of) the other; that difficulty and ease produce the one (the idea of) the other; that length and shortness fashion out the one the figure of the other; that (the ideas of) height and lowness arise from the contrast of the one with the other; that the musical notes and tones become harmonious through the relation of one with another; and that being before and behind give the idea of one following another. Therefore the sage manages affairs without doing anything, and conveys his instructions without the use of speech.