| | 管晏列传: |
管仲夷吾者，颍上人也。少时常与鲍叔牙游，鲍叔知其贤。管仲贫困，常欺鲍叔，鲍叔终善遇之，不以为言。已而鲍叔事齐公子小白，管仲事公子纠。及小白立为桓公，公子纠死，管仲囚焉。鲍叔遂进管仲。管仲既用，任政于齐，齐桓公以霸，九合诸侯，一匡天下，管仲之谋也。 |
| | Guan Zhong Yiwu was a native of Yingshang. When he was young, he often traveled with Bao Shuya; Bao knew that Guan Zhong was virtuous. Guan Zhong was poor and often mistreated Bao Shuya, but Bao always treated him kindly without saying anything about it. Later, Bao Shuya served the State of Qi's Prince Xiao Bai, while Guan Zhong served Prince Jiu. When Xiao Bai was enthroned as Duke Huan, Prince Jiu died and Guan Zhong was imprisoned. Bao Shuya then recommended Guan Zhong. After being appointed, Guan Zhong administered state affairs in Qi; Duke Huan of Qi became a hegemon, convened the feudal lords nine times, and unified the realm—this was all due to Guan Zhong's strategies.
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| | 管晏列传: |
管仲曰：“吾始困时，尝与鲍叔贾，分财利多自与，鲍叔不以我为贪，知我贫也。吾尝为鲍叔谋事而更穷困，鲍叔不以我为愚，知时有利不利也。吾尝三仕三见逐于君，鲍叔不以我为不肖，知我不遭时也。吾尝三战三走，鲍叔不以我怯，知我有老母也。公子纠败，召忽死之，吾幽囚受辱，鲍叔不以我为无耻，知我不羞小睗而耻功名不显于天下也。生我者父母，知我者鲍子也。” |
| | Guan Zhong said: "When I was in hardship, I once did business with Bao Shuya. When dividing profits, I took more for myself, but Bao did not think me greedy; he knew that I was poor." "I once advised Bao Shuya on a matter which only brought more hardship, but Bao did not consider me foolish; he understood that there are times of fortune and misfortune." "I once held office three times, only to be dismissed by my lord each time. Bao did not regard me as unworthy; he knew I had simply not encountered the right time." "I once fought in battle three times and fled each time, but Bao did not see me as cowardly; he knew I had an elderly mother to care for." "When Prince Jiu was defeated, Zhao Hu died for him. I was imprisoned and humiliated, but Bao did not view me as shameless; he knew that it was not the small disgrace that shamed me, but rather the failure to achieve fame and glory in the world." "My parents gave me life, but Bao Shuya truly understands me."
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| | 管晏列传: |
鲍叔既进管仲，以身下之。子孙世禄于齐，有封邑者十馀世，常为名大夫。天下不多管仲之贤而多鲍叔能知人也。 |
| | After recommending Guan Zhong, Bao Shuya placed himself beneath him. His descendants received hereditary official ranks in Qi; for more than ten generations, there were those who held fiefs and were always prominent officials. The world did not praise Guan Zhong's virtue as much as it praised Bao Shuya for his ability to recognize talent.
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| | 管晏列传: |
管仲既任政相齐，以区区之齐在海滨，通货积财，富国强兵，与俗同好恶。故其称曰：“仓廪实而知礼节，衣食足而知荣辱，上服度则六亲固。四维不张，国乃灭亡。下令如流水之原，令顺民心。”故论卑而易行。俗之所欲，因而予之；俗之所否，因而去之。 |
| | After assuming the role of prime minister in Qi, Guan Zhong governed a small state on the seacoast. He facilitated trade and accumulated wealth, enriching the country and strengthening its military forces, aligning with the people's likes and dislikes. 𝑙 Hence his statement: "When granaries are full, people understand propriety and restraint; when clothing and food are sufficient, they know honor and disgrace. When the ruler observes proper conduct, the six relations remain harmonious." "If the four cardinal principles are not upheld, the state will perish." "Enact decrees as a stream follows its source, ensuring that orders align with the people's wishes." Therefore, his policies were modest yet easy to implement. What the people desired, he followed and granted it; what the people rejected, he followed and removed it.
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| | 管晏列传: |
其为政也，善因祸而为福，转败而为功。贵轻重，慎权衡。桓公实怒少姬，南袭蔡，管仲因而伐楚，责包茅不入贡于周室。桓公实北征山戎，而管仲因而令燕修召公之政。于柯之会，桓公欲背曹沫之约，管仲因而信之，诸侯由是归齐。故曰：“知与之为取，政之宝也。” |
| | His governance was skillful in transforming misfortune into fortune and turning failure into success. He valued priorities highly and carefully balanced power. Duke Huan was indeed angry at Shao Ji, so he launched a southern attack on Cai. Guan Zhong took this opportunity to attack Chu and held them accountable for not offering the bao mao tribute to the Zhou court. When Duke Huan actually launched a northern campaign against Shan Rong, Guan Zhong used this opportunity to instruct Yan in restoring the policies of Shao Gong. At the Ke Conference, Duke Huan wanted to break his promise made with Cao Mo, but Guan Zhong ensured that he honored it. Thus, the feudal lords began to look up to Qi. Hence it is said: "Knowing when to give in order to gain is the treasure of governance."
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| | 管晏列传: |
管仲富拟于公室，有三归、反坫，齐人不以为侈。管仲卒，齐国遵其政，常强于诸侯。后百馀年而有晏子焉。 |
| | Guan Zhong's wealth was comparable to that of the royal house; he had San Gui and Fan Dian, yet the people of Qi did not consider this extravagant. After Guan Zhong died, the State of Qi continued to follow his policies and remained stronger than other feudal states. More than a hundred years later came Yanzi.
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| | 管晏列传: |
晏平仲婴者，莱之夷维人也。事齐灵公、庄公、景公，以节俭力行重于齐。既相齐，食不重肉，妾不衣帛。其在朝，君语及之，即危言；语不及之，即危行。国有道，即顺命；无道，即衡命。以此三世显名于诸侯。 |
| | Yan Pingzhong Ying was a native of Yiwei, Lai. 𝑙 He served Duke Ling, Duke Zhuang, and Duke Jing of Qi, and was esteemed in the state for his frugality and diligence. After becoming prime minister of Qi, he did not eat two kinds of meat at a meal, and his concubines did not wear silk. When in court, if the ruler mentioned him, he would speak with solemnity; if the ruler did not mention him, he still conducted himself with integrity. When the state was well governed, he followed orders; when it was misgoverned, he balanced or resisted commands. Because of this, for three generations he gained a distinguished reputation among the feudal lords.
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| | 管晏列传: |
越石父贤，在缧绁中。晏子出，遭之涂，解左骖赎之，载归。弗谢，入闺。久之，越石父请绝。晏子惧然，摄衣冠谢曰：“婴虽不仁，免子于缌何子求绝之速也？”石父曰：“不然。吾闻君子诎于不知己而信于知己者。方吾在缧绁中，彼不知我也。夫子既已感寤而赎我，是知己；知己而无礼，固不如在缧绁之中。”晏子于是延入为上客。 |
| | Yue Shifu was virtuous but was in chains and fetters. When Yanzi went out, he encountered him on the road, dismounted his left horse to redeem him, and took him home. He did not express gratitude but entered the inner chamber. After some time, Yue Shifu requested to sever their relationship. Yanzi was startled and adjusted his robe and hat, apologizing: "Though I am not kind-hearted, by freeing you from bondage, why do you so quickly seek to sever our bond?" Shifu said: "Not quite." "I have heard that a gentleman is humiliated by those who do not know him but trusted by those who understand him." "When I was in chains, they did not know me. Now that you have been moved to redeem me, you are one who knows me; to know me yet treat me without courtesy is indeed worse than remaining in chains." Yanzi then invited him inside and treated him as a most honored guest.
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| | 管晏列传: |
晏子为齐相，出，其御之妻从门闲而闚其夫。其夫为相御，拥大盖，策驷马，意气扬扬甚自得也。既而归，其妻请去。夫问其故。妻曰：“晏子长不满六尺，身相齐国，名显诸侯。今者妾观其出，志念深矣，常有以自下者。今子长八尺，乃为人仆御，然子之意自以为足，妾是以求去也。”其后夫自抑损。晏子怪而问之，御以实对。晏子荐以为大夫。 |
| | When Yanzi served as prime minister of Qi, on one occasion he went out; his charioteer's wife peeped from the door at her husband. Her husband was driving for the prime minister, holding a large canopy, guiding four horses, and appeared very proud and self-satisfied. Later, when he returned home, his wife requested to leave him. The husband asked her the reason. His wife said: "Yanzi is less than six chi tall, yet he serves as prime minister of Qi and his name is renowned among the feudal lords. 𝑙 Today I observed him when he went out; he was deeply thoughtful, always showing humility." You are eight chi tall and yet serve as a charioteer for others. However, you seem to consider yourself sufficient. That is why I wish to leave." Afterward, the husband became more humble in his conduct. Yanzi was surprised and asked about it; the charioteer answered truthfully. Yanzi recommended him to be appointed as an official.
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| | 管晏列传: |
太史公曰：吾读管氏牧民、山高、乘马、轻重、九府，及晏子春秋，详哉其言之也。既见其著书，欲观其行事，故次其传。至其书，世多有之，是以不论，论其轶事。 |
| | Grand Historian said: I read Guan Zhong's "Mumin," "Shangao," "Chengma," "Qingzhong," "Jiufu," and Yanzi's Spring and Autumn Annals; his words are indeed detailed. Having seen his writings, I wished to observe his actions, so I arranged this biography accordingly. As for his books, many copies exist in the world; therefore, I do not discuss them but instead recount some of his anecdotes.
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| | 管晏列传: |
管仲世所谓贤臣，然孔子小之。岂以为周道衰微，桓公既贤，而不勉之至王，乃称霸哉？语曰“将顺其美，匡救其恶，故上下能相亲也”。岂管仲之谓乎？ |
| | Guan Zhong is universally regarded as a virtuous minister, yet Confucius considered him petty. Was it because he believed that the Zhou dynasty's way was declining and, although Duke Huan was virtuous, Guan did not encourage him to achieve the status of Son of Heaven but only a hegemon? The saying goes: "Assist in cultivating virtue and correct evil, so that superiors and inferiors may be close to one another." Was this not a reference to Guan Zhong?
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| | 管晏列传: |
方晏子伏庄公尸哭之，成礼然后去，岂所谓“见义不为无勇”者邪？至其谏说，犯君之颜，此所谓“进思尽忠，退思补过”者哉！假令晏子而在，余虽为之执鞭，所忻慕焉。 |
| | When Yanzi knelt before Duke Zhuang's corpse and wept, completing the rites before leaving, was this not what is meant by "to see righteousness and not act upon it is to lack courage"? As for his remonstrations, he dared to confront the ruler directly—this is indeed what is meant by "when advancing, think of complete loyalty; when retreating, reflect on correcting mistakes"! If Yanzi were alive today, I would be content to serve as his whip-bearer; such is my admiration for him.
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