尚賢(下)

Master Mozi said: 'All the kings, dukes, and great men of the realm desire their states to be wealthy, their people to be numerous, and their laws to be well-administered. Yet they do not understand that elevating the worthy should be the basis of governing their states and people. The kings, dukes, and great men have fundamentally lost the essential principle of elevating the worthy as the basis of governance. If they have indeed lost this essential principle, must we not demonstrate it to them with concrete examples?'

Now when kings and great men have a single ox or sheep they cannot slaughter, they must seek a skilled butcher; when they have a single garment they cannot make, they must seek a skilled tailor. In such matters, even if there are close kinsmen, persons who are rich and noble without cause, or persons whose faces and appearances are attractive, if they truly know these persons are incapable, they will not employ them. Why? Because they fear losing their property. In such matters, kings and great men do not fail to elevate the worthy and employ the capable.

Extending this upward: in the past, Yao had Shun, Shun had Yu, Yu had Gao Yao, Tang had his small minister, and King Wu had Hong Yao, Tai Dian, Nangong Kuo, and San Yisheng -- and the realm was at peace and the common people flourished. Therefore those nearby were content and those far away submitted. Everywhere the sun and moon shone, everywhere boats and chariots could reach, everywhere rain and dew fell, everywhere grain-eating people dwelt -- all were encouraged and praised these rulers. Now the kings, dukes, great men, and scholars of the realm who truly desire to practice benevolence and righteousness, who seek to become superior scholars, who above wish to accord with the Way of the sage kings and below wish to serve the interests of the state and the people -- they must examine the doctrine of elevating the worthy. Elevating the worthy benefits Heaven, the spirits, and the people, and is the foundation of governance.