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五曰── |
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万物不同，而用之于人异也，此治乱存亡死生之原。故国广巨，兵强富，未必安也；尊贵高大，未必显也；在于用之。桀、纣用其材而成其亡，汤、武用其材而成其王。 |
| | All things are different, and their uses for people vary; this is the origin of order or disorder, survival or destruction, life or death. Therefore, a vast and powerful state with strong armies and wealth is not necessarily secure; Nobility, high status, and grandeur do not necessarily mean prominence; It depends on how they are used. Jie and Zhou used their talents to bring about their own downfall, while Tang and Wu used their talents to achieve kingship.
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汤见祝网者，置四面，其祝曰：“从天坠者，从地出者，从四方来者，皆离吾网。”汤曰：“嘻！尽之矣。非桀其孰为此也？”汤收其三面，置其一面，更教祝曰：“昔蛛蝥作网罟，今之人学纾。欲左者左，欲右者右，欲高者高，欲下者下，吾取其犯命者。”汉南之国闻之曰：“汤之德及禽兽矣。”四十国归之。人置四面，未必得鸟；汤去其三面，置其一面，以网其四十国，非徒网鸟也。 |
| | Tang saw a man setting up a hunting net, placed it on all four sides, and the hunter said: "Those falling from heaven, those emerging from earth, those coming from all directions—all shall fall into my net." Tang said, "Ah! You have exhausted them. This is not unlike what Jie would do—who else could act in such a way?" Tang removed three sides of the net, leaving only one side, and taught the hunter a new prayer: "In ancient times, the spider created its web; today's people follow that example. Those who wish to go left may go left, those who wish to go right may go right, those who wish to ascend may ascend, and those who wish to descend may descend—I shall take only those who defy the natural order." The states in the southern part of Han heard this and said: "Tang's virtue extends even to birds and beasts." Forty states submitted to him. A person who sets a net on all four sides does not necessarily catch birds; Tang removed three sides and left only one, yet with this he "netted" forty states—this was not merely about catching birds.
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周文王使人抇池，得死人之骸，吏以闻于文王，文王曰：“更葬之。”吏曰：“此无主矣。”文王曰：“有天下者，天下之主也；有一国者，一国之主也。今我非其主也？”遂令吏以衣棺更葬之。天下闻之曰：“文王贤矣，泽及髊骨，又况于人乎？”或得宝以危其国，文王得圬骨以喻其意，故圣人于物也无不材。 |
| | King Wen of Zhou had someone dig a pond, and they found the bones of a dead person. The officials reported this to King Wen, who said: "Bury them again." The official said, "These bones have no owner now." King Wen said: "He who rules the world is the lord of all under heaven; He who governs a state is the lord of that state. Am I not their master now?" He then ordered the officials to rebury them with a shroud and a coffin. The people throughout the land heard this and said: "King Wen is truly virtuous; his benevolence extends even to bones of the dead—how much more so will it extend to living people?" Some may obtain treasures that endanger their state, but King Wen gained insight from the bones of the dead to understand his purpose. Therefore, a sage finds use for all things in the world.
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孔子之弟子从远方来者，孔子荷杖而问之曰：“子之公不有恙乎？”搏杖而揖之，问曰：“子之父母不有恙乎？”置杖而问曰：“子之兄弟不有恙乎？”杙步而倍之，问曰：“子之妻子不有恙乎？”故孔子以六尺之杖，谕贵贱之等，辨疏亲之义，又况于以尊位厚禄乎？ |
| | When disciples of Confucius arrived from afar, Confucius carried his staff and asked them: "Is your lord in good health?" He clasped his staff and bowed to them, asking: "Are your parents in good health?" Setting down his staff, he asked: "Are your brothers and sisters in good health?" He walked a few steps backward while facing away from them and asked: "Are your wife and children in good health?" Therefore, Confucius used a six-foot staff to illustrate the hierarchy of status and distinguish the principles of closeness in relationships. If such care was shown through a simple staff, how much more so should it be demonstrated through positions of honor and generous salaries?
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古之人贵能射也，以长幼养老也。今之人贵能射也，以攻战侵夺也。其细者以劫弱暴寡也，以遏夺为务也。仁人之得饴，以养疾侍老也。跖与企足得饴，以开闭取楗也。 |
| | In ancient times, people valued the ability to shoot (with bows), as it was used to support the young and care for the elderly. People today value the ability to shoot not to support the young or care for the elderly, but to wage war, attack, and seize territory. The less significant among them use it to rob the weak and oppress orphans; they regard plundering as their main pursuit. A benevolent person who obtains honey uses it to nourish the sick and care for the elderly. Zhi and Qizu, upon obtaining honey, use it to bribe officials and gain access through locked doors.
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