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季羔为衞士师，刖人之足，俄而衞有乱，季羔逃之，刖者守门焉。谓季羔曰：彼有缺。季羔曰：君子不逾。又曰：彼有窦。季羔曰：君子不隧，又曰：于此有室，季羔入焉。既而追者罢，季羔将去。谓刖者曰：吾不能亏主之法而亲刖子之足，今吾在难，此正子报怨之时，而子逃我，何故。刖者曰：断足，故我之罪也。无可奈何，曩者君治臣以法令，先人后臣，欲臣之免也。臣知之，狱决罪定，临当论刑，君愀然不乐，见于颜色，臣又知之，君岂私臣哉。天生君子，其道故然，此臣之所以悦，君也。孔子闻之曰：善哉为吏，其用法一也。思仁恕则树德，加严暴则树怨，公以行，其子羔乎。 |
| | Ji Gao was an official of Wei as Shishi. Ji Gao had the feet of a criminal amputated; soon after, there was turmoil in Wei, and Ji Gao fled. The man whose feet were cut off guarded the gate. He said to Ji Gao: There is a gap there. Ji Gao said: A gentleman does not cross over. He also said: There is a hole there. Ji Gao said: A gentleman does not go through tunnels, He also said: There is a room here, and Ji Gao entered it. Soon after the pursuers gave up, Ji Gao was about to leave. He said to the man whose feet had been cut off: "I could not compromise my lord's law and personally amputate your feet. Now I am in trouble, this is precisely the time for you to take revenge on me, yet you are fleeing from me—why?" The man whose feet had been cut off said: "Having my feet amputated was the punishment for my crime." "There is nothing to be done about it. In the past, you governed me according to laws and regulations, prioritizing my ancestors over myself, wishing for my pardon." "I know this well. When the case was decided and my punishment determined, just as I was about to be sentenced, you looked sorrowful and unhappy, showing it on your face; I also knew that. Could it be that you were partial toward me?" "Heaven produces gentlemen, and their way is naturally so; this is why I am pleased with you, my lord." Confucius heard of it and said: "Excellent indeed is the conduct of an official; his application of law remains consistent." Thinking with benevolence and forgiveness establishes virtue, while imposing severity and brutality fosters resentment. To act impartially—was it not Ji Gao?
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| | 致思: |
子路为蒲宰，为水备，修沟渎，以民之烦苦也。人与一箪食，一壶浆，孔子止之。子路曰：由也以民多匮饿者，匮，乏也。是以与之箪食壶浆，而夫子使止之，是夫子止由之行仁也。孔子曰：尔以民为饿，何不白于君，发仓廪以给之，而私以尔食馈之，是汝明君之无惠也。速已则可，不已，则尔之见罪必矣。 |
| | Zilu served as the magistrate of Pu, and to prepare for floods, he repaired ditches and canals, because it was burdensome and troublesome for the people. When someone offered him one bamboo basket of food and one earthenware pot of soup, Confucius stopped him. Zilu said: "You know that many people are suffering from hunger and shortages." (Kui means shortage.) "Therefore, I gave them a basket of food and a pot of soup. But Master made me stop it; this means that the Master is preventing You from practicing benevolence." Confucius said: "If you think the people are starving, why didn't you report it to the ruler and have him open the granaries to provide for them? Instead, you privately gave your own food as a gift; this shows that you are revealing the ruler's lack of benevolence." "Quickly stop what you're doing, and it will be acceptable. If you do not stop, then you are certainly going to face punishment."
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| | 致思: |
子贡问治民于孔子。孔子曰：懔懔焉如以腐索御捍马，子贡曰：何其畏也。孔子曰：夫通达之属皆人也。以道导之，则吾畜也。不以道导之，则吾仇也。若之何其无畏也。 |
| | Zigong asked Confucius about governing the people. Confucius said: "With great caution, as if using a rotten rope to control a spirited horse," Zigong said: "How very fearful that is." Confucius said: "Those who are well-connected and influential are also human beings." If guided by the Way, they become my subjects. If not guided by the Way, then they are my enemies. How could one not be fearful of that?
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