使用了虚拟语气were to be和would，生动地描绘了假设情境下的反应。
Mencius said: "The great fault of men is that they love to be the masters of others." (Liu Lou, Part 1)
(Mencius said:) The great fault of a person, which hinders their own progress, lies in their arrogance of always wanting to be the teacher of others.
Mencius said: "Confucius did not go to extremes." (Liu Lou, Part 2)
(Mencius said:) Confucius was a man who never did anything excessive.
Mencius said: "If Xi Zi were to be defiled, people would cover their noses as they passed by her; though a person may be ugly, if he purifies himself and bathes, he can still offer sacrifices to the Supreme Being." (Liu Lou, Part 2)
(Mencius said:) If Xi Zi were covered in filth, people would cover their noses as they passed by her; although a person may be ugly in appearance, if he observes ritual purity and bathes, he can equally offer sacrifices to the Supreme Being.
Mencius said: "There are five things which the world calls unfilial: To be lazy in one's limbs, and neglect the care of one's parents, is the first unfilial act. To be fond of chess and wine, and neglect the care of one's parents, is the second. To love money and be partial to one's wife and children, and neglect the care of one's parents, is the third. To indulge the desires of the eyes and ears, and thereby bring disgrace upon one's parents, is the fourth. To be fond of fighting and quarreling, and thereby endanger one's parents, is the fifth." (Liu Lou, Part 2)
(Mencius said:) The world commonly lists five acts as unfilial: Being lazy with one's limbs and not engaging in production, thereby neglecting the livelihood of one's parents, is the first; being fond of chess and drinking, thereby neglecting the livelihood of one's parents, is the second; being greedy for wealth and favoring one's wife and children, thereby neglecting the livelihood of one's parents, is the third; indulging in the desires of the ears and eyes, thereby bringing shame to one's parents, is the fourth; being bold and fond of fighting, thereby endangering one's parents, is the fifth.
孟子曰：“人之患，在好为人师。”（离娄上）
（孟子说：）一个人妨碍自己进步的坏毛病，就在于他自满到老是喜欢当别人的老师。
孟子曰：“仲尼不为已甚者。”（离娄下）
（孟子说：）孔子是一个不会做过火的事的人。
孟子曰：“西子蒙不洁，则人皆掩鼻而过之；虽有恶人，斋戎沐浴，则可以祀上帝。”（离娄下）
（孟子说：）如果西子施身上沾了肮脏，别人走过她身边时也会掩着鼻子；虽然是个面貌丑陋的人，如果他斋戎沐浴，也一样可以祭祀上帝。
孟子曰：“世俗所谓不孝者五：隋其四支，不顾父母之养，一不孝也；博奕好欲酒，不顾父母之养，二不孝也；好货财，私妻子，不顾父母之养，三不孝也；从耳目之欲，以为父母戮，四不孝也；好勇斗狠，以危父母，五不孝也。”（离娄下）
（孟子说：）世上人常说不孝的事有五件：四肢懒惰，（不事生产）不管父母的生活，一不孝；好下棋、饮酒，不管父母的生活，二不孝；贪恋钱财，偏袒妻子儿女，不管父母的生活，三不孝；放纵耳目的欲望，使父母受到耻辱，四不孝；逞勇力好打架，危害了父母，五不孝。