Government

子禽问于子贡曰，夫子至于是邦也，必闻其政，求之与，抑与之与。子贡曰，夫子温，良，恭，俭，让，以得之，夫子之求之也，其诸异乎人之求之与。

1. Tsze-ch'in asked Tsze-kung, saying, "When our master comes to any country, he does not fail to learn all about its government. Does he ask his information? or is it given to him?" 2. Tsze-kung said, "Our master is benign, upright, courteous, temperate, and complaisant, and thus he gets his information. The master's mode of asking information!—is it not different from that of other men?"

子曰，为政以德，譬如北辰，居其所，而众星共之。

The Master said, "He who exercises government by means of his virtue may be compared to the north polar star, which keeps its place and all the stars turn towards it."

子曰，道之以政，齐之以刑，民免而无耻。道之以德，齐之以礼，有耻且格。

1. The Master said, "If the people be led by laws, and uniformity sought to be given them by punishments, they will try to avoid the punishment, but have no sense of shame. 2. "If they be led by virtue, and uniformity sought to be given them by the rules of propriety, they will have the sense of shame, and moreover will become good."

或谓孔子曰，子奚不为政。子曰，书云孝乎，惟孝友于兄弟，施于有政，是亦为政，奚其为为政。

1. Some one addressed Confucius, saying, "Sir, why are you not engaged in the government?" 2. The Master said, "What does the Shu-ching say of filial piety?—'You are filial, you discharge your brotherly duties. These qualities are displayed in government.' This then also constitutes the exercise of government. Why must there be that —making one be in the government?"

子张问曰，令尹子文三仕为令尹，无喜色，三已之，无愠色。旧令尹之政，必以吿新令尹，何如。子曰，忠矣。曰，仁矣乎。曰，未知，焉得仁。崔子弑齐君，陈文子有马十乘，弃而违之。至于他邦，则曰，犹吾大夫崔子也，违之，之一邦，则又曰，犹吾大夫崔子也，违之，何如。子曰，淸矣。曰，仁矣乎。曰，未知，焉得仁。

1. Tsze-chang asked, saying, "The minister Tsze-wan thrice took office, and manifested no joy in his countenance. Thrice he retired from office, and manifested no displeasure. He made it a point to inform the new minister of the way in which he had conducted the government;—what do you say of him?" The Master replied. "He was loyal." "Was he perfectly virtuous?" "I do not know. How can he be pronounced perfectly virtuous?" 2. Tsze-chang proceeded, "When the officer Ch'ui killed the prince of Ch'i, Ch'an Wan, though he was the owner of forty horses, abandoned them and left the country. Coming to another State, he said, 'They are here like our great officer, Ch'ui,' and left it. He came to a second State, and with the same observation left it also;—what do you say of him?" The Master replied, "He was pure." "Was he perfectly virtuous?" "I do not know. How can he be pronounced perfectly virtuous?"

季康子问仲由，可使从政也与。子曰，由也果，于从政乎何有。曰，赐也，可使从政也与。曰，赐也达，于从政乎何有。曰，求也，可使从政也与。曰，求也艺，于从政乎何有。

Chi K'ang asked about Chung-yu, whether he was fit to be employed as an officer of government. The Master said, "Yu is a man of decision; what difficulty would he find in being an officer of government?" K'ang asked, "Is Ts'ze fit to be employed as an officer of government?" and was answered, "Ts'ze is a man of intelligence; what difficulty would he find in being an officer of government?" And to the same question about Ch'iu the Master gave the same reply, saying, "Ch'iu is a man of various ability."

子曰，不在其位，不谋其政。

The Master said, "He who is not in any particular office, has nothing to do with plans for the administration of its duties."

子曰，从我于陈蔡者，皆不及门也。德行，颜渊，闵子骞，冉伯牛，仲弓。言语，宰我，子贡。政事，冉有，季路。文学，子游，子夏。

1. The Master said, "Of those who were with me in Ch'an and Ts'ai, there are none to be found to enter my door." 2. Distinguished for their virtuous principles and practice, there were Yen Yuan, Min Tsze-ch'ien, Zan Po-niu, and Chung-kung; for their ability in speech, Tsai Wo and Tsze-kung; for their administrative talents, Zan Yu and Chi Lu; for their literary acquirements, Tsze-yu and Tsze-hsia.

子贡问政。子曰足食，足兵，民信之矣。子贡曰，必不得已而去，于斯三者何先。曰，去兵。子贡曰，必不得已而去，于斯二者何先。曰，去食，自古皆有死，民无信不立。

1. Tsze-kung asked about government. The Master said, "The requisites of government are that there be sufficiency of food, sufficiency of military equipment, and the confidence of the people in their ruler." 2. Tsze-kung said, "If it cannot be helped, and one of these must be dispensed with, which of the three should be foregone first?" "The military equipment," said the Master. 3. Tsze-kung again asked, "If it cannot be helped, and one of the remaining two must be dispensed with, which of them should be foregone?" The Master answered, "Part with the food. From of old, death has been the lot of all men; but if the people have no faith in their rulers, there is no standing for the state."

齐景公问政于孔子。孔子对曰，君君，臣臣，父父，子子。公曰，善哉，信如君不君，臣不臣，父不父，子不子，虽有粟，吾得而食诸。

1. The Duke Ching, of Ch'i, asked Confucius about government. 2. Confucius replied, "There is government, when the prince is prince, and the minister is minister; when the father is father, and the son is son." 3. "Good!" said the duke; "if, indeed; the prince be not prince, the minister not minister, the father not father, and the son not son, although I have my revenue, can I enjoy it?"

子张问政。子曰，居之无倦，行之以忠。

Tsze-chang asked about government. The Master said, "The art of governing is to keep its affairs before the mind without weariness, and to practise them with undeviating consistency."

季康子问政于孔子。孔子对曰，政者正也，子帅以正，孰敢不正。

Chi K'ang asked Confucius about government. Confucius replied, "To govern means to rectify. If you lead on the people with correctness, who will dare not to be correct?"

季康子问政于孔子，曰，如杀无道，以就有道，何如。孔子对曰，子为政，焉用杀，子欲善，而民善矣，君子之德风，小人之德草，草上之风必偃。

Chi K'ang asked Confucius about government, saying, "What do you say to killing the unprincipled for the good of the principled?" Confucius replied, "Sir, in carrying on your government, why should you use killing at all? Let your evinced desires be for what is good, and the people will be good. The relation between superiors and inferiors, is like that between the wind and the grass. The grass must bend, when the wind blows across it."

子路问政。子曰，先之，劳之。请益。曰，无倦。

1. Tsze-lu asked about government. The Master said, "Go before the people with your example, and be laborious in their affairs." 2. He requested further instruction, and was answered, "Be not weary (in these things)."

仲弓为季氏宰，问政。子曰，先有司，赦小过，擧贤才。曰，焉知贤才而擧之。曰，擧尔所知，尔所不知，人其舍诸。

1. Chung-kung, being chief minister to the Head of the Chi family, asked about government. The Master said, "Employ first the services of your various officers, pardon small faults, and raise to office men of virtue and talents." 2. Chung-kung said, "How shall I know the men of virtue and talent, so that I may raise them to office?" He was answered, "Raise to office those whom you know. As to those whom you do not know, will others neglect them?"

子路曰，衞君待子而为政，子将奚先。子曰，必也，正名乎。子路曰，有是哉，子之迂也，奚其正。子曰，野哉，由也，君子于其所不知，盖阙如也。名不正，则言不顺，言不顺，则事不成。事不成，则礼乐不兴，礼乐不兴，则刑罚不中，刑罚不中，则民无所措手足。故君子名之必可言也，言之必可行也，君子于其言，无所茍而已矣。

1. Tsze-lu said, "The ruler of Wei has been waiting for you, in order with you to administer the government. What will you consider the first thing to be done?" 2. The Master replied, "What is necessary is to rectify names." 3. "So, indeed!" said Tsze-lu. "You are wide of the mark! Why must there be such rectification?" 4. The Master said, "How uncultivated you are, Yu! A superior man, in regard to what he does not know, shows a cautious reserve. 5. "If names be not correct, language is not in accordance with the truth of things. If language be not in accordance with the truth of things, affairs cannot be carried on to success. 6. "When affairs cannot be carried on to success, proprieties and music will not flourish. When proprieties and music do not flourish, punishments will not be properly awarded. When punishments are not properly awarded, the people do not know how to move hand or foot. 7. "Therefore a superior man considers it necessary that the names he uses may be spoken appropriately, and also that what he speaks may be carried out appropriately. What the superior man requires, is just that in his words there may be nothing incorrect."

子曰，诵诗三百，授之以政，不达，使于四方，不能专对，虽多，亦奚以为。

The Master said, "Though a man may be able to recite the three hundred odes, yet if, when intrusted with a governmental charge, he knows not how to act, or if, when sent to any quarter on a mission, he cannot give his replies unassisted, notwithstanding the extent of his learning, of what practical use is it?"

子曰，鲁衞之政，兄弟也。

The Master said, "The governments of Lu and Wei are brothers."

子曰，苟正其身矣，于从政乎何有，不能正其身，如正人何。

The Master said, "If a minister make his own conduct correct, what difficulty will he have in assisting in government? If he cannot rectify himself, what has he to do with rectifying others?"

冉子退朝，子曰，何晏也。对曰，有政。子曰，其事也，如有政，虽不吾以，吾其与闻之。

The disciple Zan returning from the court, the Master said to him, "How are you so late?" He replied, "We had government business." The Master said, "It must have been family affairs. If there had been government business, though I am not now in office, I should have been consulted about it."

叶公问政。子曰，近者说，远者来。

1. The Duke of Sheh asked about government. 2. The Master said, "Good government obtains, when those who are near are made happy, and those who are far off are attracted."

子夏为莒父宰，问政。子曰，无欲速，无见小利。欲速则不达，见小利则大事不成。

Tsze-hsia, being governor of Chu-fu, asked about government. The Master said, "Do not be desirous to have things done quickly; do not look at small advantages. Desire to have things done quickly prevents their being done thoroughly. Looking at small advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished."

子贡问曰，何如斯可谓之士矣。子曰，行己有耻，使于四方，不辱君命，可谓士矣。曰，敢问其次。曰，宗族称孝焉，乡党称弟焉。曰，敢问其次。曰，言必信，行必果，硁硁然，小人哉，抑亦可以为次矣。曰，今之从政者何如。子曰，噫，斗筲之人，何足算也。

1. Tsze-kung asked, saying, "What qualities must a man possess to entitle him to be called an officer? The Master said, "He who in his conduct of himself maintains a sense of shame, and when sent to any quarter will not disgrace his prince's commission, deserves to be called an officer." 2. Tsze-kung pursued, "I venture to ask who may be placed in the next lower rank?" And he was told, "He whom the circle of his relatives pronounce to be filial, whom his fellow-villagers and neighbours pronounce to be fraternal." 3. Again the disciple asked, "I venture to ask about the class still next in order." The Master said, "They are determined to be sincere in what they say, and to carry out what they do. They are obstinate little men. Yet perhaps they may make the next class." 4. Tsze-kung finally inquired, "Of what sort are those of the present day, who engage in government?" The Master said "Pooh! they are so many pecks and hampers, not worth being taken into account."

子曰，不在其位，不谋其政。

The Master said, "He who is not in any particular office, has nothing to do with plans for the administration of its duties."

孔子曰，天下有道，则礼乐征伐，自天子出，天下无道，则礼乐征伐，自诸侯出，自诸侯出，盖十世希不失矣，自大夫出，五世希不失矣，陪臣执国命，三世希不失矣。天下有道，则政不在大夫。天下有道，则庶人不议。

1. Confucius said, "When good government prevails in the empire, ceremonies, music, and punitive military expeditions proceed from the son of Heaven. When bad government prevails in the empire, ceremonies, music, and punitive military expeditions proceed from the princes. When these things proceed from the princes, as a rule, the cases will be few in which they do not lose their power in ten generations. When they proceed from the Great officers of the princes, as a rule, the cases will be few in which they do not lose their power in five generations. When the subsidiary ministers of the great officers hold in their grasp the orders of the state, as a rule, the cases will be few in which they do not lose their power in three generations. 2. "When right principles prevail in the kingdom, government will not be in the hands of the Great officers. 3. "When right principles prevail in the kingdom, there will be no discussions among the common people."

孔子曰，禄之去公室，五世矣，政逮于大夫，四世矣，故夫三桓之子孙微矣。

Confucius said, "The revenue of the state has left the ducal House now for five generations. The government has been in the hands of the Great officers for four generations. On this account, the descendants of the three Hwan are much reduced."

楚狂接舆，歌而过孔子，曰，凤兮。凤兮。何德之衰。往者不可谏，来者犹可追。已而。已而。今之从政者殆而。孔子下，欲与之言。趋而辟之，不得与之言。

1. The madman of Ch'u, Chieh-yu, passed by Confucius, singing and saying, " o fang ! o fang ! How is your

曾子曰，吾闻诸夫子，孟庄子之孝也，其他可能也，其不改父之臣，与父之政，是难能也。

The philosopher Tsang said, "I have heard this from our Master:—'The filial piety of Mang Chwang, in other matters, was what other men are competent to, but, as seen in his not changing the ministers of his father, nor his father's mode of government, it is difficult to be attained to.'"

尧曰，咨。尔舜。天之历数在尔躬，允执其中。四海困穷，天禄永终。舜亦以命禹。曰，予小子履，敢用玄牡，敢昭告于皇皇后帝，有罪不敢赦。帝臣不蔽，简在帝心。朕躬有罪，无以万方，万方有罪，罪在朕躬。周有大赉，善人是富。虽有周亲，不如仁人，百姓有过，在予一人。谨权量，审法度，修废官，四方之政行焉。兴灭国，继绝世，举逸民，天下之民归心焉。所重，民，食，丧，祭。宽则得众，信则民任焉，敏则有功，公则说。

1. Yao said, "Oh! you, Shun, the Heaven-determined order of succession now rests in your person. Sincerely hold fast the due Mean. If there shall be distress and want within the four seas, the Heavenly revenue will come to a perpetual end." 2. Shun also used the same language in giving charge to Yu. 3. T'ang said, "I the child Li, presume to use a dark-coloured victim, and presume to announce to Thee, O most great and sovereign God, that the sinner I dare not pardon, and thy ministers, O God, I do not keep in obscurity. The examination of them is by thy mind, O God. If, in my person, I commit offences, they are not to be attributed to you, the people of the myriad regions. If you in the myriad regions commit offences, these offences must rest on my person." 4. Chau conferred great gifts, and the good were enriched. 5. "Although he has his near relatives, they are not equal to my virtuous men. The people are throwing blame upon me, the One man." 6. He carefully attended to the weights and measures, examined the body of the laws, restored the discarded officers, and the good government of the kingdom took its course. 7. He revived States that had been extinguished, restored families whose line of succession had been broken, and called to office those who had retired into obscurity, so that throughout the kingdom the hearts of the people turned towards him. 8. What he attached chief importance to, were the food of the people, the duties of mourning, and sacrifices. 9. By his generosity, he won all. By his sincerity, he made the people repose trust in him. By his earnest activity, his achievements were great. By his justice, all were delighted.

子张问于孔子曰，何如斯可以从政矣。子曰，尊五美，屏四恶，斯可以从政矣。子张曰，何谓五美。子曰，君子惠而不费，劳而不怨，欲而不贪，泰而不骄，威而不猛。子张曰，何谓惠而不费。子曰，因民之所利而利之，斯不亦惠而不费乎。择可劳而劳之，又谁怨。欲仁而得仁，又焉贪。君子无众寡，无小大，无敢慢，斯不亦泰而不骄乎。君子正其衣冠，尊其瞻视，俨然人望而畏之，斯不亦威而不猛乎。子张曰，何谓四恶。子曰，不教而杀谓之虐，不戒视成谓之暴，慢令致期谓之贼，犹之与人也，出纳之吝，谓之贪。

1. Tsze-chang asked Confucius, saying, "In what way should a person in authority act in order that he may conduct government properly?" The Master replied, "Let him honour the five excellent, and banish away the four bad, things;—then may he conduct government properly." Tsze-chang said, "What are meant by the five excellent things?" The Master said, "When the person in authority is beneficent without great expenditure; when he lays tasks on the people without their repining; when he pursues what he desires without being covetous; when he maintains a dignified ease without being proud; when he is majestic without being fierce." 2. Tsze-chang said, "What is meant by being beneficent without great expenditure?" The Master replied, "When the person in authority makes more beneficial to the people the things from which they naturally derive benefit;—is not this being beneficent without great expenditure? When he chooses the labours which are proper, and makes them labour on them, who will repine? When his desires are set on benevolent government, and he secures it, who will accuse him of covetousness? Whether he has to do with many people or few, or with things great or small, he does not dare to indicate any disrespect;—is not this to maintain a dignified ease without any pride? He adjusts his clothes and cap, and throws a dignity into his looks, so that, thus dignified, he is looked at with awe;—is not this to be majestic without being fierce?" 3. Tsze-chang then asked, "What are meant by the four bad things?" The Master said, "To put the people to death without having instructed them;—this is called cruelty. To require from them, suddenly, the full tale of work, without having given them warning;—this is called oppression. To issue orders as if without urgency, at first, and, when the time comes, to insist on them with severity;—this is called injury. And, generally, in the giving pay