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Mohism -> Mozi -> Book 1 -> The seven causes of anxiety -> 1

墨子Mozi said:
There are seven causes of worry to a state.
What are these seven causes of worry?
When the outer and the inner city walls are not defensible,
this is the first worry;
When an enemy state is approaching and yet one's neighbours do not come to the rescue,
this is the second worry;
When the resources of the people have all been spent on useless enterprises
and gifts all squandered upon incapable men,
when people's resources are exhausted without producing any profit
1 and the treasury is emptied by entertaining idle company,
this is the third worry;
2祿 When the officials value only their salaries,
3 and the sophists only friendship,
and when the subordinates dare not remonstrate against the laws the ruler has made for persecution,
this is the fourth worry;
When the lord is over-confident of his own wisdom and holds no consultation,
when he feels he is secure and makes no preparations against attack;
and when he does not know that he must be watchful while neighbours are planning against him,
this is the fifth worry;
4
5
When those trusted are not loyal
6
and the loyal are not trusted,
this is the sixth worry;
And when the crops are not sufficient for food
7
and the ministers can not be charged with responsibilities,
and when awards fail to make people happy
and punishment to make them afraid,
this is the seventh worry.
With these seven causes present in the maintenance of the state,
8 the state will perish,
and, in the defence of a city,
the city will be reduced to ruin by the approaching enemy.
Wherever these seven causes are found,
the country will face calamity.

1. 待 : Originally read: "持". Corrected by 清畢沅《墨子注》
2. 持 : Originally read: "待". Corrected by 孫詒讓《墨子閒詁》
3. 愛佼 : Originally read: "憂反". Corrected by 吳毓江《墨子校注》
4. 信 : Originally read: "言". Corrected by 孫詒讓《墨子閒詁》
5. 者 : Inserted. 孫詒讓《墨子閒詁》據《群書治要》本補。
6. 者 : Inserted. 孫詒讓《墨子閒詁》據《群書治要》本補。
7. 以 : Inserted. 孫詒讓《墨子閒詁》
8. 社 : Originally read: "杜". Corrected by 孫詒讓《墨子閒詁》


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