| | 君道: |
河间献王曰：尧存心于天下，加志于穷民，痛万姓之罹罪，忧衆生之不遂也。有一民饥。则曰：此我饥之也。有一民寒。则曰：此我寒之也。一民有罪。则曰：此我陷之也。仁昭而义立，德博而化广，故不赏而民劝，不罚而民治，先恕而后教，是尧道也。 |
| | Hejian Xianwang said: Yao devoted his heart to the world, and directed his will toward the poor people. He felt sorrow for all the people who suffered punishment, and was concerned about living beings whose aspirations were not fulfilled. There is one person suffering from hunger. Then he would say: This is my hunger. There is one person suffering from cold. Then he would say: This is my cold. One person has committed a crime. Then he would say: This is my fault that led him into it. Benevolence was evident and righteousness established, virtue was extensive and its influence widespread; therefore, without rewards the people were encouraged, and without punishment the people were governed. He practiced forgiveness first and then instruction—this is the way of Yao.
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| | 君道: |
河间献王曰：禹称民无食则我不能使也。功成而不利于民，则我不能劝也。故疏河而道之，凿江通于九派，洒五湖而定东海，民亦劳矣。然而不怨苦者，利归于民也。 |
| | Hejian Xianwang said: Yu said, "If the people have no food, it is I who cannot provide for them." If achievements are accomplished but do not benefit the people, then it is I who am unable to encourage them. Therefore, he dredged the rivers and directed their flow, excavated the Yangtze River to connect it with nine tributaries, drained the Five Lakes and stabilized the East Sea—this was a great labor for the people. Yet they did not complain or suffer bitterness; this is because the benefits were returned to the people.
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| | 君道: |
禹出见罪人，下车问而泣之。左右曰：罪人不顺道使然，君王何为痛之至于此也。禹曰：尧舜之民，皆以尧舜之心为心，今寡人为君也。百姓各自以其心为心，是以痛之也。 |
| | Yu went out and saw a criminal, dismounted his carriage, asked about him, and wept. His attendants said: "The criminal has acted contrary to the right path, so why does Your Majesty grieve for him to this extent?" Yu said: "The people of Yao and Shun all regarded the hearts of Yao and Shun as their own. Now I am their ruler." "The common people each regard their own hearts as their standard, which is why I feel sorrow for them."
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| | 君道: |
当尧之时，舜为司徒，契为司马，禹为司空，后稷为田畴，夔为乐正，倕为工师，伯夷为秩宗，皋陶为大理，益掌驱禽，尧不能为一焉。尧为君而九子者为臣，其何故也。尧知九职之事，使九子各受其事，皆胜其任以成功，尧遂乘成功以王天下，是故知人者主道也。知事者臣道也。主道知人，臣道知事，毋乱旧法，而天下治矣。 |
| | In the time of Yao, Shun was Minister of Education, Xie was Minister of War, Yu was Minister of Works, Houji was in charge of agriculture, Kui was Director of Music, Chui was Chief Artisan, Boyi was Keeper of Rites, Gao Tao was Chief Justice, and Yi was responsible for driving away birds. Not one of these roles could Yao himself have performed. Yao was the ruler while these nine men were his ministers—why is this so? Yao understood the responsibilities of the nine offices, and assigned each task to one of his nine sons. Each was able to fulfill their duties successfully, and thus Yao achieved success and became ruler over all under heaven. Therefore, knowing people is the way for a sovereign. Knowing affairs is the way for ministers. The ruler's way is to know people, and the minister's way is to understand affairs; without disturbing established laws, the world will be well governed.
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| | 君道: |
明主者有三惧，一曰处尊位而恐不闻其过，二曰得意而恐骄，三曰闻天下之至言而恐不能行。 |
| | An enlightened ruler has three fears: first, being in a high position and fearing that one's faults will not be known; second, gaining success and fearing arrogance; third, hearing the most profound words of the world and fearing an inability to act upon them.
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| | 君道: |
师经鼓琴，魏文侯起舞。赋曰：使我言而无见违，师经援琴而撞文侯，不中，中旒，溃之。文侯顾谓左右曰：为人臣而撞其君，其罪何如。左右曰：罪当烹，提师经下堂一等。师经曰：臣可得一言而死乎。文侯曰：可。师经曰：昔尧舜之为君也。唯恐言而人不违，桀纣之为君也。唯恐言而人违之，臣撞桀纣，非撞吾君也。文侯曰：释之，是寡人之过也。悬琴于城门，以为寡人符，不补旒，以为寡人戒。 |
| | Shi Jing played the qin, and Wei Wenhou danced. The verse said: "If my words are not to be disobeyed," Shi Jing took up the qin and struck Wenhou, missing him but hitting a pendant of the ceremonial cap, breaking it. Wenhou turned to his attendants and said: "As a minister striking his ruler, what crime is this?" The attendants replied: "His punishment should be boiling," and they dragged Shi Jing down one step from the hall. Shi Jing said: "May I speak one word before dying?" Wenhou said: "Yes." Shi Jing said: "In the past, when Yao and Shun were rulers," they feared only that their words would not be disobeyed; as for Jie and Zhou being rulers, they feared only that people would disobey their words. I struck Jie and Zhou, not my ruler." Wenhou said: "Release him; this is my mistake." He hung the qin on the city gate, as a symbol for me, and did not replace the broken pendant, using it as a warning to myself.
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