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五曰── |
| | The fifth is──
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智所以相過，以其長見與短見也。今之於古也，猶古之於後世也。今之於後世，亦猶今之於古也。故審知今則可知古，知古則可知後，古今前後一也。故聖人上知千歲，下知千歲也。 |
| | Wisdom surpasses one another because of long-term and short-term perspectives. The present relates to the past as the past does to future generations. The present relates to future generations just as it does to the past. Therefore, understanding the present allows one to know the past; knowing the past enables one to understand the future. The past and present, as well as before and after, are one in essence. Therefore, a sage understands events from a thousand years ago as well as those that will occur a thousand years later.
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荊文王曰：「莧譆數犯我以義，違我以禮，與處則不安，曠之則不穀得焉，不以吾身爵之，後世有聖人，將以非不穀」，於是爵之五大夫。「申侯伯善持養吾意，吾所欲則先我為之，與處則安，曠之而不穀喪焉，不以吾身遠之，後世有聖人，將以非不穀」，於是送而行之。申侯伯如鄭，阿鄭君之心，先為其所欲，三年而知鄭國之政也，五月而鄭人殺之。是後世之聖人，使文王為善於上世也。 |
| | Jing Wenwang said: "Xian Xi often offends me with righteousness and disobeys me according to propriety. Living with him brings unease, yet ignoring him would allow the unworthy to benefit. If I do not bestow rank upon him in my lifetime, future generations may have a sage who will criticize me for it." Thus, he conferred on him the title of Dadaifu (Great Officer). "Shen Houbo is good at maintaining and nurturing my will; he anticipates my desires and acts before I do. Living with him brings peace, yet neglecting him would cause the unworthy to suffer loss. If I do not distance myself from him in my lifetime, future generations will have a sage who will condemn me for it," so he sent him away and let him go on his way. Shen Houbo went to Zheng, where he flattered Duke Zheng and anticipated his desires by acting before him. After three years, he came to understand the administration of the state of Zheng; but after five months, the people of Zheng killed him. Thus, the sage of future generations caused Wenwang to be regarded as virtuous in previous ages.
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晉平公鑄為大鐘，使工聽之，皆以為調矣。師曠曰：「不調，請更鑄之。」平公曰：「工皆以為調矣。」師曠曰：「後世有知音者，將知鐘之不調也，臣竊為君恥之。」至於師涓，而果知鐘之不調也。是師曠欲善調鐘，以為後世之知音者也。 |
| | Duke Ping of Jin cast a large bell and had the craftsmen listen to it; they all considered its pitch to be in harmony. Shikuang said: "It is not in tune. Please recast it." Duke Ping said, "The craftsmen all think it is in tune." Shikuang said: "Future generations will have those who understand music, and they will know that the bell is out of tune. I secretly feel shame for you, my lord." When it came to Shijuan, he indeed recognized that the bell was out of tune. This shows that Shikuang wished for the bell to be properly tuned for those in future generations who would understand music.
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呂太公望封於齊，周公旦封於魯，二君者甚相善也。相謂曰「何以治國」？太公望曰：「尊賢上功。」周公旦曰：「親親上恩。」太公望曰：「魯自此削矣。」周公旦曰：「魯雖削，有齊者亦必非呂氏也。」其後齊日以大，至於霸，二十四世而田成子有齊國；魯日以削，至於覲存，三十四世而亡。 |
| | Lü Taigong Wang was enfeoffed at Qi, and Zhou Gong Dan was enfeoffed at Lu. These two lords were very close to each other. They said to each other, "How should a country be governed?" Lü Taigong said: "Honor the virtuous and value merit." Zhou Gong Dan said: "Prioritize kinship and emphasize benevolence." Lü Taigong said: "Lu will from this point on decline." Zhou Gong Dan said: "Although Lu may decline, the state of Qi will surely not remain in the hands of the Lü clan either." Later on, Qi grew increasingly powerful until it became a hegemon. After twenty-four generations, Tian Chengzi came to control the state of Qi; Lu gradually declined until it was reduced to a vassal state, and after thirty-four generations, it perished.
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吳起治西河之外，王錯譖之於魏武侯，武侯使人召之。吳起至於岸門，止車而望西河，泣數行而下。其僕謂吳起曰：「竊觀公之意，視釋天下若釋躧，今去西河而泣，何也？」吳起抿泣而應之曰：「子不識。君知我而使我畢能西河可以王。今君聽讒人之議，而不知我，西河之為秦取不久矣，魏從此削矣。」吳起果去魏入楚。有間，西河畢入秦，秦日益大，此吳起之所先見而泣也。 |
| | Wu Qi governed the region beyond Xihe when Wang Cuo slandered him to Duke Wu of Wei. Duke Wu then sent men to summon him. Wu Qi, upon arriving at Anmen, stopped his carriage and gazed toward Xihe, shedding tears in several rows down his face. His attendant said to Wu Qi: "I have secretly observed your demeanor, and it seems you regard relinquishing the world as one would discard a clog. Now, why do you weep at leaving Xihe?" Wu Qi wiped his tears and replied: "You do not understand." The ruler knew me and allowed me to fully demonstrate my abilities in Xihe, which could have led to kingship. "Now the ruler listens to the slander of others and no longer understands me. It will not be long before Xihe falls into the hands of Qin, and from this point on, Wei will decline." Wu Qi indeed left Wei and went to Chu. After some time, Xihe was completely taken by Qin, which grew increasingly powerful—this was precisely what Wu Qi had foreseen and wept over.
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魏公叔痤疾。惠王往問之，曰：「公叔之疾，嗟！疾甚矣！將奈社稷何？」公叔對曰：「臣之御庶子鞅，願王以國聽之也。為不能聽，勿使出境。」王不應，出而謂左右曰：「豈不悲哉？以公叔之賢，而今謂寡人必以國聽鞅，悖也夫！」公叔死，公孫鞅西游秦，秦孝公聽之，秦果用彊，魏果用弱，非公叔痤之悖也，魏王則悖也。夫悖者之患，固以不悖為悖。 |
| | Duke Gongshu Cuo of Wei fell ill. Prince Huiwang went to visit him and said, "Your illness, Sir Gongshu! Alas!" It is very serious now! What shall we do about the state?" Gongshu replied: "My steward and common son Yang, I wish Your Majesty would entrust the state to him. If you cannot heed his counsel, do not let him leave the country." The king did not respond. After leaving, he said to those around him: "Is it not sad?" Such a virtuous man as Gongshu, and yet now he tells me I must certainly entrust the state to Yang—how absurd! After Gongshu died, Gongsun Yang traveled west to Qin. Duke Xiao of Qin listened to him, and indeed, Qin became strong while Wei grew weak. It was not Gongshu Cuo who was absurd—it was King Wei who was unreasonable. The misfortune of those who are unreasonable lies in regarding what is not unreasonable as unreasonable.
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