| 《·》: | 子曰：“周监于二代，郁郁乎文哉！” |
| The Master said, "Zhou had the advantage of viewing the two past dynasties. How complete and elegant are its regulations!" |
| 《·》: | 大国地方百里，君十卿禄，卿禄四大夫，大夫倍上士，上士倍中士，中士倍下士，下士与庶人在官者同禄，禄足以代其耕也。 |
| In a great State, where the territory was a hundred li square, the ruler had ten times as much income as his Chief ministers; a Chief minister four times as much as a Great officer; a Great officer twice as much as a scholar of the first class; a scholar of the first class twice as much as one of the middle; a scholar of the middle class twice as much as one of the lowest; the scholars of the lowest class, and such of the common people as were employed about the government offices, had for their emolument as much as was equal to what they would have made by tilling the fields. |
| 《·》: | 子言之：“昔三代明王皆事天地之神明，无非卜筮之用，不敢以其私，亵事上帝。” |
| These were the words of the Master - 'The ancient and intelligent kings of the three dynasties all served the Spiritual Intelligences of heaven and earth, but invariably used the tortoise-shell and divining stalks. They did not presume to employ their own private judgment in the service of God.' |
| 《》: | 昔在有熊、高阳、高辛、唐、虞、三代，咸有显懿，故天胙之，为神明主，且著在天庭，是生民之愿也，厥飨国久长。 |
| In the past the Yellow Emperor, Gao Yang, Gao Xin, Tang, Shun and the Three Dynasties all clearly manifested de. Thus Tian honored them, used them to unite Heaven and Earth, and placed them in the Imperial Hall. This is what the people desired, and long did their kingdoms flourish. |
| 《·》: | 故唯昔三代圣王尧、舜、禹、汤、文、武，之所以王天下正诸侯者，此亦其法已。 |
| Now the way that enabled the sage-kings of the Three Dynasties, namely Yao, Shun, Yu, Tang, Wen and Wu, to rule the empire and head the feudal lords was no other than this (principle of exaltation of the virtuous). |
| 《·》: | 而我犹代子，吾将为名乎？ |
| If I in these circumstances take your place, shall I not be doing so for the sake of the name? |
| 《》: | 夫代大匠斫者，希有不伤其手矣。 |
| Seldom is it that he who undertakes the hewing, instead of the great carpenter, does not cut his own hands! |
| 《·》: | 君曰：“代立不忘社稷，君之道也。” |
| The prince said: "Not to forget, at his succession, the tutelary spirits of the soil and of grain, is the way of a prince." |
| 《·》: | 而诸侯咸尊轩辕为天子，代神农氏，是为黄帝。 |
| The princes all agreed that Xuanyuan should be the Emperor in place of Shennong, under the title Huangdi. |
| 《·》: | 劳而不敢求息者，将有所代也。 |
| 《·》: | 侨闻之：昔鲧违帝命，殛之于羽山，化为黄熊，以入于羽渊，是为夏郊，三代举之。 |
| 《·》: | 故诡晋文得志之实，以代讳避致王也。 |
| 《·》: | 子产病，将死，国人皆吁嗟，曰：‘谁可使代子产死者乎？’ |
| 《》: | 孔子遂言曰：“昔三代明王之政，必敬其妻、子也有道。” |
| 《·》: | 或曰：“诸侯之称代子。” |
| 《·》: | 三代之礼，天子春朝朝日，秋暮夕月，所以明有敬也。 |
| 《·》: | 虽彭越、陈狶、卢绾之谋，九江燕代之兵，及吴楚之难，关东之兵，虽百万之师，犹不能以为害者，由保仁德之惠，守关中之固也。 |
| 《·》: | 故《》曰：‘’ |
| 《·》: | 孔子遂言曰：“三代明王必敬妻子也，盖有道焉。” |
| 《·》: | 三代之以覆，列国之以灭，后人犹不能革，此万官所以屡失守，而天命数靡常者也。 |
| 《·》: | 越王翳逃山中，至诚不愿，自冀得代。 |
| 《·》: | 次四，男女事，不代之字。 |
| 《》: | 周、秦常以岁八月遣輶轩之使，求异代方言，还奏籍之，藏于秘室。 |
| 《·》: | 子夏对曰：“《书》之论事也，昭昭然若日月之代明，离离然若星辰之错行。” |
| 《·》: | 其功格宇宙，粤有虎臣乱政，时亦惟荒圯湮，兹洪轨仪，鉴于三代之典，王允迪厥德，功业有尚。 |
| 《·》: | 故得皇猷丕丕，行于四方，扬于后代，以保社稷，以光祖考。 |
| 《·》: | 得机而动，则能成绝代之功。 |
| 《·》: | 于是奚仲乃桡曲为轮，因直为辕，驾马服牛，浮舟杖楫，以代人力。 |
| 《·》: | 更者，长也，更相代至五也。 |
| 《·》: | 秦汉以来，少帝即位，后代而摄政，称皇太后，诏不言制。 |
| 《·》: | 唯民知极，弗之代也。 |
| 《·》: | 老子曰：执一世之法籍，以非传代之俗，譬犹胶柱调瑟。 |
| 《·》: | 远代所称，美哉天人。 |
| 《》: | 昔者五帝之治天下也，其道昭昭若日月之明然，若以昼代夜然。 |
| 《》: | 夫代司杀者，是谓代大匠斫。 |
| 《·》: | 代四十六县，上党七十县，不用一领甲，不苦一士民，此皆秦有也。 |
| 《·》: | 昔七十九代之君，法制不一，号令不同，然而俱王天下，何也？ |
| 《·》: | 人君自任，而务为善以先下，则是代下负任蒙劳也，臣反逸矣。 |
| 《·》: | 管子对曰：“公其令人贵买衡山之械器而卖之，燕代必从公而买之，秦赵闻之，必与公争之，衡山之械器，必倍其贾，天下争之，衡山械器，必什倍以上。” |
| 《·》: | 其异任也，其无以代也。 |
| 《·》: | 亟为置代，遗以诚事，亲而信之，其君将复合之。 |
