| Chinese Text Project |
《力命 - Li Ming 》 | English translation: AI and Chinese Text Project users [?] | Library Resources |
| 1 | 力命: | 管夷吾有病，小白問之。曰：仲父之病，病矣。至於大病，則寡人惡乎屬國而可。夷吾曰：公誰欲歟。小白曰：鮑叔牙可。曰：不可，其為人潔廉善士，清己而已。其於不己若者，不比之人，欲以己善齊物也。一聞人之過，終身不忘，不能棄瑕録善。使之治國，上且鈎乎君，下且逆乎民，必引君令其道不弘，道苟不弘，則逆民而不能納矣。其得罪於君，將弗久矣。小白曰：然則孰可。對曰：勿已則隰朋可，其為人也。愧不若黄帝，而哀不己若者，慚其道之不及聖，矜其民不以逮己，故能無棄人也。以德分人，謂之聖人，化之使合道，而不宰割。以財分人，謂之賢人，既以與人，已愈有也。以賢臨人者，未有得人者也。求備於人，則物所不與也。以賢下人者，未有不得人者也。與物升降者，物必歸之也。其於國，有不聞也。其於家，有不見也。道行則不賴賴作煩聞見，故曰不瞽不聾，不能成功。勿已，則隰朋可，若有聞見，則事鍾於己，而羣生無所措手足，故遺之可，未能盡道，故僅可耳。然則管夷吾非薄鮑叔也。不得不薄，非厚隰朋也。不得不厚，厚薄之去來，弗由我也。皆天理也。 |
| Guan Yiwu was ill, and Xiao Bai visited him. He said: "Uncle Zhong's illness is a serious one." "If it comes to a grave illness, then where should I entrust the state affairs?" Yiwu said: "Who does the Duke wish?" Xiao Bai said: "Bao Shuya is suitable." He said: "No, his character is clean and upright, a man of virtue; he is merely clean himself." Those who are not like him, those he does not associate with, he wants to measure things by his own virtue. Once he hears of someone's faults, he never forgets them for life; he cannot overlook flaws and record virtues. If he is made to govern the state, above he will entangle the ruler, and below he will go against the people; he must lead the ruler in a way that does not promote virtue. If virtue is not promoted, then he cannot accommodate the people but will oppose them instead. He will soon incur the ruler's displeasure and thus cannot remain in power for long. Xiao Bai said: "Then who is suitable?" He replied: "If not, then Xi Peng is suitable. His character is such that..." He feels ashamed of not being as virtuous as the Yellow Emperor, and compassionate toward those who are less capable than himself; he is ashamed that his virtue does not reach sainthood, and he pities his people for not attaining what he has achieved, so he can manage without abandoning anyone. To distribute virtue among the people is called a sage; to transform them to align with the Way, without cutting or dominating. To distribute wealth among the people is called a virtuous man; after giving to others, he himself becomes even more abundant. One who governs the people by virtue of his own superiority will never truly gain their support. To demand perfection from others is something that things themselves do not provide. One who treats the people with humility despite his virtue will never fail to gain their support. Those who rise and fall in accordance with things, things will surely return to him. Regarding the state affairs, there are matters he does not hear about. Regarding his family, there are things he does not see. When the Way is practiced, one does not rely onrelying as being troublesomehearing and seeing; therefore it is said that without blindness or deafness, success cannot be achieved. If not, then Xi Peng can be chosen; if one relies on hearing and seeing, matters will concentrate upon oneself, leaving the people at a loss for what to do with their hands and feet. Therefore, it is acceptable to leave them out, but since this does not fully embody the Way, it is only barely acceptable. Thus, Guan Yiwu did not look down upon Bao Shuya. He had no choice but to do so; it was not that he favored Xi Peng more. He could not help but favor him—it is the coming and going of favor and disfavor, which does not depend on me. They are all determined by Heaven's principle. |
URN: ctp:n418080