| Elimination of Strength:...: |
Farming, trade and office are the three permanent functions in a state, and these three functions give rise to six parasitic functions, which are called: care for old age, living on others, beauty, love, ambition and virtuous conduct. If these six parasites find an attachment, there will be dismemberment. The three functions are attached to three different men, but these six functions may attach themselves to one man. To abolish law by means of the law means strength; to establish law by means of the law means dismemberment. If officials are permanent, law is abolished; but if officials are often transferred, laws are established. In administering a great country, it becomes small; in administering a small country, it becomes great. If the people are made strong, the army will be doubly diminished; if the people are made weak, the army will be doubly strengthened. Indeed, to attack the strong with a strong people spells ruin; to attack the strong with a weak people means the attainment of supremacy. If the country is strong and war is not waged, the poison will be carried into the territory; rites and music and the parasitic functions will arise, and dismemberment will be inevitable. But if the country (being strong) thereupon wages war, the poison will be carried to the enemy, and not suffering from rites and music and the parasitic functions, it will be strong. If those who exert themselves are promoted, and men of merit are employed in office, the country will be strong; but if the parasitic functions arise, dismemberment will be inevitable. If farmers are few and merchants numerous, men in high positions will be poor, merchants will be poor and farmers will be poor; these three functions all being poor, dismemberment is inevitable. |
