Choosing the Worthy with Care
Text
English translation
Original Chinese text
孟子见齐宣王,曰:‘所谓故国者,非谓有乔木之谓也,有世臣之谓也。王无亲臣矣,昔者所进,今日不知其亡也。’
English translation
Mencius told King Xuan of Qi, ‘An old state is not defined by its ancient trees but by ministers whose families have long served it. You have no close ministers now; of those you once advanced, you do not even know who has gone.’
Original Chinese text
王曰:‘吾何以识其不才而舍之?’曰:‘国君进贤,如不得已,将使卑逾尊,疏逾戚,可不慎与?’
English translation
The king asked, ‘How can I tell who lacks ability and set him aside?’ Mencius replied, ‘When a ruler advances the worthy, if he cannot do otherwise, he will cause someone of low rank to pass one of high rank, and an outsider to pass a kinsman. How could he fail to take care?’
Original Chinese text
‘左右皆曰贤,未可也;诸大夫皆曰贤,未可也;国人皆曰贤,然后察之;见贤焉,然后用之。’
English translation
‘If all your attendants call someone worthy, that is not enough. If all the high officers say so, it is still not enough. When the people of the state say so, examine him; only after finding him worthy should you employ him.’
Original Chinese text
‘左右皆曰不可,勿听;诸大夫皆曰不可,勿听;国人皆曰不可,然后察之;见不可焉,然后去之。’
English translation
‘If all your attendants say a man is unfit, do not act on that alone. Even if the high officers agree, do not yet act. When the people of the state agree, examine him; if he proves unfit, then remove him.’
Original Chinese text
‘左右皆曰可杀,勿听;诸大夫皆曰可杀,勿听;国人皆曰可杀,然后察之;见可杀焉,然后杀之。故曰,国人杀之也。如此,然后可以为民父母。’
English translation
‘If all your attendants say a man should be put to death, do not rely on that. Nor should you rely solely on the high officers. When the people of the state say so, investigate; only if the case warrants death should the sentence be carried out. Thus it is said that the people of the state put him to death. Only then may a ruler act as a parent to the people.’