親士

If one enters a state and does not preserve its scholars, that state will perish. If one sees the worthy but does not treat the matter with urgency, this shows negligence toward one's lord. Without the worthy there is nothing urgent to attend to; without scholars there are none with whom to deliberate on state affairs. To neglect the worthy and forget the scholars, yet still preserve one's state -- this has never happened.

In the past, Duke Wen of Jin fled his state yet went on to bring order to the realm; Duke Huan of Qi left his state yet became hegemon over the feudal lords; King Goujian of Yue suffered humiliation at the hands of the King of Wu yet still commanded respect among the worthy lords of the Central States. That these three were able to achieve fame and success throughout the realm was because they had all been suppressed and deeply humiliated in their own states. The highest achievement is to never suffer defeat; the next best is to suffer defeat yet still accomplish great things -- this is what is meant by 'employing the people.' I have heard it said: 'It is not that I lack a comfortable dwelling -- I lack a contented heart; it is not that I lack sufficient wealth -- I lack a satisfied heart.' Therefore the gentleman makes things difficult for himself and easy for others, while the common person makes things easy for himself and difficult for others. The gentleman, in advancing, does not compromise his resolve, and inwardly examines his true feelings; though he may be mixed among ordinary people, he never harbors resentment. Such a person possesses self-confidence.

Therefore those who undertake what is difficult will certainly obtain what they desire; but I have never heard of those who pursue only what they desire being able to avoid what they hate. Thus overbearing ministers harm their lord, and fawning subordinates harm their superiors. A ruler must have ministers who frankly remonstrate with him; a superior must have subordinates who speak out forthrightly. Those who share in deliberation speak at length, and those who correct errors speak bluntly -- only thus can one enjoy long life and preserve the state. When ministers value their rank and salary and keep silent, when close ministers are mute and distant ministers can only groan, when resentment accumulates in the hearts of the people, when flatterers stand at one's side and good counsel is blocked -- then the state is in danger. Was it not because Jie and Zhou lacked worthy scholars throughout the realm? They brought death upon themselves and lost the realm. Therefore it is said: 'Rather than returning a state treasure, it is better to present the worthy and advance the scholar.' Now if there are five awls and one is the sharpest, the sharpest will be the first to be blunted. If there are five knives and one has the finest edge, the finest-edged will be the first to be worn down. Thus the sweet well is soon exhausted, the tall tree is soon felled, the efficacious tortoise is soon scorched, the divine serpent is soon displayed. Therefore Bi Gan was killed for his uprightness; Meng Ben was slain for his courage; Xi Shi was drowned for her beauty; Wu Qi was torn apart for his accomplishments. Few among such persons fail to die because of their very strengths -- hence it is said: 'Great prominence is hard to maintain.'

Therefore even a worthy ruler does not favor a minister without merit; even a kind father does not love a child who is of no benefit. Thus one who cannot bear the responsibilities of a position yet occupies it is not the right person for that position; one who cannot sustain the rank yet draws its salary is not the rightful holder of that salary. A fine bow is hard to draw, yet it can reach the heights and penetrate the depths; a fine horse is hard to ride, yet it can bear heavy loads and travel far; fine talent is hard to command, yet it can bring honor and respect to one's lord. The great rivers do not disdain small streams filling them -- that is why they are great. The sage refuses no task and rejects no thing -- that is why he can serve as a vessel for all under heaven. The water of the rivers does not come from a single source; a fur coat worth a thousand yi is not made from the white fur of a single fox. How can one who accepts only what is the same and rejects what is different ever succeed? This is surely not the way of the all-encompassing king! Therefore heaven and earth are not brilliantly conspicuous, great waters are not dazzlingly clear, great fires are not blindingly bright, and kingly virtue is not ostentatiously lofty -- for they are the leaders of a thousand men. Being straight as an arrow and level as a whetstone is not enough to shelter all things. Therefore narrow streams quickly dry up, shallow waters are soon exhausted, and rocky barren ground produces no crops. If the king's bountiful generosity does not extend beyond the palace, it cannot flow throughout the state.