Verse 2-Analects of Confucius Chapter 20

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Verse 2 of Analects of Confucius Chapter 20

English: Zi Zhang asked Confucius about governance. Confucius said:"Adhere to five form of virtue and stay away from four forms of bad governance." Zi Zhang asked:"What are the five forms of virtue?" Confucius replied:"Generous but no extravagant, when using commoner as labor, make sure they do not have grouses, has the desire to be benevolent but not be greedy, stern but not arrogant." Zi Zhang continued asking," What doe sit mean to be generous but not extravagant?" Confucius said:"Let the people do what will benefit them, is this not generous but not extragant? Work the commoners when there is a need and when they are not farming and who would complain? In the pursuit of benevolence, one is able to achieve it, would he be greedy? The gentleman when dealing with many or few, great or small, he will treat them nicely and equally. Is that not stern but not arrogant? The gentleman dress proper, dignified in his gaze, has a presence that inspires people who see him in awe. Is this not being awe-inspiring without appearing fierce?" Zi Zhang said:"What is meant by the four forms of bad governance?" Confucius said:"To impose the death penalty without first reforming the people is to be cruel; to expect results without first giving warning is to be tyrannical; to insist on a time limit when tardy in issuing orders is to cause thievery. When something has to be given to others anyway, to be miserly in the actual giving is to be petty."

Modern: 子张问孔子说：“怎样才可以治理政事呢？”孔子说：“尊重五种美德，排除四种恶政，这样就可以治理政事了。”子张问：“五种美德是什么？”孔子说：“君子要给百姓以恩惠而自已却无所耗费；使百姓劳作而不使他们怨恨；有追求仁德而不贪图财利；庄重而不傲慢；威严而不凶猛。”子张说：“怎样叫要给百姓以恩惠而自己却无所耗费呢？”孔子说：“让百姓们去做对他们有利的事，这不就是对百姓有利而不掏自己的腰包嘛！选择可以让百姓劳作的时间和事情让百姓去做。这又有谁会怨恨呢？自己要追求仁德便得到了仁，又还有什么可贪的呢？君子对人，无论多少，势力大小，都不怠慢他们，这不就是庄重而不傲慢吗？君子衣冠整齐，目不邪视，使人见了就让人生敬畏之心，这不也是威严而不凶猛吗？”子张问：“什么叫四种恶政呢？”孔子说：“不经教化便加以杀戮叫做虐；不加告诫便要求成功叫做暴；不加监督而突然加限期叫做贼，同样是给人财物，却出手吝啬，叫做小气。”

Original: 子张问于孔子曰：“何如斯可以从政矣？”子曰：“尊五美，屏四恶，斯可以从政矣。”子张曰：“何谓五美？”子曰：“君子惠而不费，劳而不怨，欲而不贪，泰而不骄，威而不猛。” 子张曰：“何谓惠而不费？” 子曰：“因民之所利而利之，斯不亦惠而不费乎？择可劳而劳之，又谁怨？欲仁而得仁，又焉贪？君子无众寡，无小大，无敢慢，斯不亦泰而不骄乎？君子正其衣冠，尊其瞻视，俨然人望而畏之，斯不亦威而不猛乎？” 子张曰：“何谓四恶？” 子曰：“不教而杀谓之虐。不戒视成谓之暴。慢令致期谓之贼。犹之与人也，出纳之吝谓之有司。”

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