74. Punishment and Killing
Text
English translation
Original Chinese text
民不畏死，奈何以死惧之？
English translation
If the people no longer fear death, how can they be frightened with death?
Harsh threats lose their force when hardship has already made life unbearable. Sound government must address the source of despair.
Original Chinese text
若使民常畏死，而为奇者，吾得执而杀之，孰敢？
English translation
If the people consistently feared death, and if those who acted perversely could be seized and killed, who would dare to do so?
The question exposes a condition of deterrence: people must have lives they value. Execution alone cannot create order.
Original Chinese text
常有司杀者杀。
English translation
There is always an authority over killing that carries out the killing.
Decisions over life and death have their proper bounds. A ruler should not take such power into personal hands lightly.
Original Chinese text
夫司杀者，是大匠斲；夫代大匠斲者，希有不伤其手矣。
English translation
The authority over killing is like a master carpenter who does the cutting. Those who cut in place of the master carpenter seldom avoid injuring their own hands.
Taking over the power of life and death can bring harm back upon the one who wields it. The image warns rulers against casual execution.