| | 順說: |
五曰── |
| | The fifth is──
|
| | 順說: |
善說者若巧士，因人之力以自為力；因其來而與來，因其往而與往；不設形象，與生與長；而言之與響；與盛與衰，以之所歸；力雖多，材雖勁，以制其命。順風而呼，聲不加疾也；際高而望，目不加明也；所因便也。 |
| | A good speaker is like a skillful official, using others' strength as if it were his own. He follows them when they come and accompanies them when they go; He does not set up forms or images, but grows and develops along with them; and his words echo like a response. He shares in their prosperity and decline, and thus they turn to him for allegiance; Even if his strength is great and his talent is strong, he uses them to control the course of events. Calling out with the wind does not make one's voice any louder; Standing at a great height to look out, one's eyes do not become any sharper; It is about taking advantage of the circumstances.
|
| | 順說: |
惠盎見宋康王。康王蹀足謦欬，疾言曰：「寡人之所說者勇有力，而無為仁義者。客將何以教寡人？」惠盎對曰：「臣有道於此，使人雖勇，刺之不入；雖有力，擊之弗中。大王獨無意邪？」王曰：「善！此寡人所欲聞也。」惠盎曰：「夫刺之不入，擊之不中，此猶辱也。臣有道於此，使人雖有勇弗敢刺，雖有力不敢擊。大王獨無意邪？」王曰：「善！此寡人之所欲知也。」惠盎曰：「夫不敢刺、不敢擊，非無其志也。臣有道於此，使人本無其志也。大王獨無意邪？」王曰：「善！此寡人之所願也。」惠盎曰：「夫無其志也，未有愛利之心也。臣有道於此，使天下丈夫女子莫不驩然皆欲愛利之，此其賢於勇有力也，居四累之上。大王獨無意邪？」王曰：「此寡人之所欲得。」惠盎對曰：「孔、墨是也。孔丘、墨翟，無地為君，無官為長，天下丈夫女子莫不延頸舉踵而願安利之。今大王，萬乘之主也，誠有其志，則四境之內皆得其利矣，其賢於孔、墨也遠矣。」宋王無以應。惠盎趨而出。宋王謂左右曰：「辨矣。客之以說服寡人也。」宋王，俗主也，而心猶可服，因矣。因則貧賤可以勝富貴矣，小弱可以制彊大矣。 |
| | Huiang met King Kang of Song. King Kang stamped his foot, coughed, and spoke sharply: "What I value is bravery and strength, not the practice of benevolence or righteousness. "What advice do you have for me, guest?" Huiang replied: "I have a method here; it makes even the bravest unable to pierce through with their attacks; even if they are strong, their strikes will not hit. "Does Your Majesty have no interest in this?" King Kang said: "Excellent! This is what I wish to hear." Huiang said: "That the spear cannot pierce and the strike cannot hit — this is still a form of disgrace. I have another method; it makes people, even if brave, dare not to strike, and even if strong, dare not to attack. "Does Your Majesty have no interest in this?" King Kang said: "Excellent! This is what I wish to know." Huiang said: "That people dare not strike or attack does not mean they lack the will. I have yet another method; it makes them never even wish to strike in the first place. "Does Your Majesty have no interest in this?" King Kang said: "Excellent! This is what I desire." Huiang said: "That there is no such will means they have not yet developed a heart for love and benefit. I have another method here; it makes all men and women throughout the world joyfully wish to love and benefit him. This is superior to bravery and strength, standing above fourfold burdens. "Does Your Majesty have no interest in this?" King Kang said: "This is what I wish to obtain." Huiang replied: "These are Kong and Mo. Confucius and Mozi had no land to be a ruler, no official position to be a leader, yet all the men and women throughout the world would stretch their necks and raise their heels, longing for peace and benefit under them. Now Your Majesty is the ruler of a great empire with ten thousand chariots. If you truly have such aspirations, then within your four borders all will benefit; how much more virtuous would you be than Kong and Mo! King Kang of Song had no reply. Huiang hurriedly left. King Kang said to those around him: "How eloquent he was." The guest has convinced me with his words." King Kang of Song was a worldly ruler, yet his heart could still be swayed — this was due to the circumstances. By taking advantage of circumstances, poverty and low status can overcome wealth and nobility, and small and weak states can control the strong and mighty.
|
| | 順說: |
田贊衣補衣而見荊王。荊王曰：「先生之衣何其惡也？」田贊對曰：「衣又有惡於此者也。」荊王曰：「可得而聞乎？」對曰：「甲惡於此。」王曰：「何謂也？」對曰：「冬日則寒，夏日則暑，衣無惡乎甲者。贊也貧，故衣惡也。今大王，萬乘之主也，富貴無敵，而好衣民以甲，臣弗得也。意者為其義邪？甲之事，兵之事也，刈人之頸，刳人之腹，隳人之城郭，刑人之父子也，其名又甚不榮。意者為其實邪？苟慮害人，人亦必慮害之；苟慮危人，人亦必慮危之。其實人則甚不安。之二者，臣為大王無取焉。」荊王無以應。說雖未大行，田贊可謂能立其方矣。若夫偃息之義，則未之識也。 |
| | Tian Zan, dressed in patched clothes, met King Jing. King Jing said: "How shabby is the clothing of my respected teacher!" Tian Zan replied: "There are clothes even more shabby than this." King Jing said: "May I hear about them?" He replied: "Armor is worse than this." Tian Zan said: "What do you mean by that?" He replied: "In winter it is cold, in summer it is hot — there is no clothing worse than armor." I am poor, hence my shabby clothes. Now Your Majesty is the sovereign of a great empire with ten thousand war chariots, wealthy and powerful beyond comparison, yet you delight in dressing your people in armor — I do not understand this. Is it perhaps for the sake of righteousness? Armor is a matter of warfare — it cuts off people's necks, carves open their bellies, destroys cities and walls, and separates fathers from sons. Its reputation is also most dishonorable. Is it perhaps for its practical use? If one intends to harm others, others will surely intend to harm him in return; If one intends to endanger others, others will certainly intend to endanger him as well. Its practical effect is that people feel most insecure. Between these two considerations, I believe Your Majesty should take neither. King Jing had no reply. Although his argument was not fully accepted, Tian Zan can be said to have skillfully presented his case. As for the meaning of peace and rest, he did not recognize it.
|
| | 順說: |
管子得於魯，魯束縛而檻之，使役人載而送之齊，其謳歌而引。管子恐魯之止而殺己也，欲速至齊，因謂役人曰：「我為汝唱，汝為我和。」其所唱適宜走，役人不倦，而取道甚速，管子可謂能因矣。役人得其所欲，己亦得其所欲。以此術也，是用萬乘之國，其霸猶少，桓公則難與往也。 |
| | Guan Zi was captured in Lu; the people of Lu bound and placed him in a cage, sending him to Qi with laborers. He sang songs as he went along. Guan Zi, fearing that the people of Lu might stop and kill him, wished to reach Qi quickly. So he said to the laborers: "I will sing for you; you harmonize with me." What he sang was just right to encourage a brisk pace, so the laborers did not grow weary and thus traveled very quickly. Guan Zi can be said to have been skillful at taking advantage of circumstances. The laborers achieved what they desired, and he also achieved what he desired. With this method, even when governing a great empire of ten thousand chariots, the achievements of hegemony would still be few; Duke Huan of Qi was indeed difficult to match.
|
