Duke Ding of Lu

定公问君使臣，臣事君，如之何。孔子对曰，君使臣以礼，臣事君以忠。

The Duke Ting asked how a prince should employ his ministers, and how ministers should serve their prince. Confucius replied, "A prince should employ his minister according to the rules of propriety; ministers should serve their prince with faithfulness."

定公问一言而可以兴邦，有诸。孔子对曰，言不可以若是其几也。人之言曰，为君难，为臣不易。如知为君之难也，不几乎一言而兴邦乎。曰，一言而丧邦有诸。孔子对曰，言不可以若是其几也，人之言曰，予无乐乎为君，唯其言而莫予违也。如其善，而莫之违也，不亦善乎。如不善而莫之违也，不几乎一言而丧邦乎。

1. The Duke Ting asked whether there was a single sentence which could make a country prosperous. Confucius replied, "Such an effect cannot be expected from one sentence. 2. "There is a saying, however, which people have—'To be a prince is difficult; to be a minister is not easy.' 3. "If a ruler knows this,—the difficulty of being a prince,—may there not be expected from this one sentence the prosperity of his country?" 4. The duke then said, "Is there a single sentence which can ruin a country?" Confucius replied, "Such an effect as that cannot be expected from one sentence. There is, however, the saying which people have—'I have no pleasure in being a prince, but only in that no one can offer any opposition to what I say!' 5. "If a ruler's words be good, is it not also good that no one oppose them? But if they are not good, and no one opposes them, may there not be expected from this one sentence the ruin of his country?"