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Confucianism -> Liji -> Zhong Yong -> 21

子曰：The Master said,
“好学近乎知， "To be fond of learning is to be near to knowledge.
力行近乎仁， To practice with vigor is to be near to magnanimity.
知耻近乎勇。 To possess the feeling of shame is to be near to energy.
知斯三者，He who knows these three things
则知所以修身； knows how to cultivate his own character.
知所以修身， Knowing how to cultivate his own character,
则知所以治人； he knows how to govern other men.
知所以治人， Knowing how to govern other men,
则知所以治天下国家矣。 he knows how to govern the kingdom with all its states and families.
凡为天下国家有九经， All who have the government of the kingdom with its states and families have nine standard rules to follow;
曰：-viz.,
修身也， the cultivation of their own characters;
尊贤也， the honoring of men of virtue and talents;
亲亲也， affection towards their relatives;
敬大臣也， respect towards the great ministers;
体群臣也， kind and considerate treatment of the whole body of officers;
子庶民也， dealing with the mass of the people as children;
来百工也， encouraging the resort of all classes of artisans;
柔远人也， indulgent treatment of men from a distance;
怀诸侯也。 and the kindly cherishing of the princes of the states.
修身则道立，By the ruler's cultivation of his own character, the duties of universal obligation are set forth.
尊贤则不惑，By honoring men of virtue and talents, he is preserved from errors of judgment.
亲亲则诸父昆弟不怨，By showing affection to his relatives, there is no grumbling nor resentment among his uncles and brethren.
敬大臣则不眩，By respecting the great ministers, he is kept from errors in the practice of government.
体群臣则士之报礼重，By kind and considerate treatment of the whole body of officers, they are led to make the most grateful return for his courtesies.
子庶民则百姓劝，By dealing with the mass of the people as his children, they are led to exhort one another to what is good.
来百工则财用足，By encouraging the resort of an classes of artisans, his resources for expenditure are rendered ample.
柔远人则四方归之，By indulgent treatment of men from a distance, they are brought to resort to him from all quarters.
怀诸侯则天下畏之。And by kindly cherishing the princes of the states, the whole kingdom is brought to revere him.
齐明盛服，Self-adjustment and purification, with careful regulation of his dress,
非礼不动，and the not making a movement contrary to the rules of propriety
所以修身也； this is the way for a ruler to cultivate his person.
去谗远色，Discarding slanderers, and keeping himself from the seductions of beauty;
贱货而贵德，making light of riches, and giving honor to virtue
所以劝贤也；-this is the way for him to encourage men of worth and talents.
尊其位，Giving them places of honor
重其禄， and large emolument.
同其好恶，and sharing with them in their likes and dislikes
所以劝亲亲也；-this is the way for him to encourage his relatives to love him.
官盛任使， Giving them numerous officers to discharge their orders and commissions:
所以劝大臣也；-this is the way for him to encourage the great ministers.
忠信重禄，According to them a generous confidence, and making their emoluments large:
所以劝士也；-this is the way to encourage the body of officers.
时使薄敛，Employing them only at the proper times, and making the imposts light:
所以劝百姓也；-this is the way to encourage the people.
日省月试， By daily examinations and monthly trials,
既廪称事， and by making their rations in accordance with their labors:
所以劝百工也；-this is the way to encourage the classes of artisans.
送往迎来， To escort them on their departure and meet them on their coming;
嘉善而矜不能，to commend the good among them, and show compassion to the incompetent:
所以柔远人也；-this is the way to treat indulgently men from a distance.
继绝世， To restore families whose line of succession has been broken,
举废国， and to revive states that have been extinguished;
治乱持危，to reduce to order states that are in confusion, and support those which are in peril;
朝聘以时，to have fixed times for their own reception at court, and the reception of their envoys;
厚往而薄来，to send them away after liberal treatment, and welcome their coming with small contributions:
所以怀诸侯也。 this is the way to cherish the princes of the states.
凡为天下国家有九经， All who have the government of the kingdom with its states and families have the above nine standard rules.
所以行之者一也。” And the means by which they are carried into practice is singleness.

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