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第二章

1. 子張問於孔子曰:「何如斯可以從政矣?」子曰:「尊五美,屏四惡,斯可以從政矣。」子張曰:「何謂五美?」子曰:「君子惠而不費,勞而不怨,欲而不貪,泰而不驕,威而不猛。」

2. 子張曰:「何謂惠而不費?」子曰:「因民之所利而利之,斯不亦惠而不費乎!擇可勞而勞之,又誰怨?欲仁而得仁,又焉貪?君子無眾寡,無大小,無敢慢,斯不亦泰而不驕乎!君子正其衣冠,尊其瞻視,儼然人望而畏之,斯不亦威而不猛乎!」

3. 子張曰:「何謂四惡?」子曰:「不教而殺謂之虐;不戒視成謂之暴;慢令致期謂之賊;猶之與人也,出納之吝,謂之有司。」

CHAPTER II.

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 or rewards to men, to do it in a stingy way;--this is called acting the part of a mere official.'

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IATHPublished by The Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities, © Copyright 2003 by Anne Kinney and the University of Virginia