3.5 [55] 景公问圣王其行若何晏子对以衰世而讽

齐景公问圣王的德行是什么样的，晏子用世道衰败来回答，进而讽谏

【原文】

景公外傲诸侯，内轻百姓，好勇力，崇乐以从嗜欲，诸侯不说，百姓不亲。公患之，问于晏子曰：“古之圣王，其行若何？”晏子对曰：“其行公正而无邪，故谗人不得入；不阿党，不私色，故群徒之卒不得容；薄身厚民，故聚敛之人不得行；不侵大国之地，不耗小国之民，故诸侯皆欲其尊；不劫人以兵甲，不威人以众强，故天下皆欲其强；德行教诲加于诸侯，慈爱利泽加于百姓，故海内归之若流水。今衰世君人者，辟邪阿党，故谗（謟）〔谄〕群徒之卒繁；厚身（飬）〔养〕，薄视民，故聚敛之人行；侵大国之地，耗小国之民，故诸侯不欲其尊；劫人以兵甲，威人以众强，故天下不欲其强；灾害加于诸侯，劳苦施于百姓，故雠敌进伐，天下不救，贵戚离散，百姓不（兴）〔与〕。”公曰：“然则何若？”敚曰：“请卑辞重币，以说于诸侯，轻罪省功，以谢于百姓，其可乎？”公曰：“诺。”于是卑辞重币，而诸侯附，轻罪省功，而百姓亲，故小国入朝，燕鲁共贡。墨子闻之曰：“晏子知道，道在为人，而失为己。为人者重，自为者轻。景公自为，而小国不（为）与，（在）为人，而诸侯为役，则道在为人，而行在反己矣，故晏子知道矣。”

【今译】

齐景公对外傲视诸侯，对内轻视百姓，喜好勇武有力的猛士，追求享乐放纵嗜欲，诸侯不高兴，百姓不亲附。景公很忧虑，向晏子询问道：“古时候的圣王，他们的行为是什么样的？”晏子回答说：“他们的行为公平正直而且没有邪念，因此谗谀的人无机可乘；不结党营私，不偏爱美色，因此拉帮结派的人不被容忍；自身节俭而对百姓宽厚，因此聚敛财物的人不能胡作非为；不侵夺大国的土地，不损耗小国的百姓，因此诸侯们都希望他地位尊贵；不靠武力强大劫掠别人，不靠人多势众威胁别人，因此天下人都希望他强大；德行教训施加给诸侯，慈爱恩泽施加给百姓，因此四海之内的人都像流水入海一样归附他。现在在衰败世道做国君的人，乖谬不正，结党营私，因此谗谀奸佞，拉帮结派的人多；重视自身的享受，轻视百姓的生计，因此聚敛财物的人大行其道；侵占大国的土地，消耗小国的百姓，因此诸侯们不希望他地位尊贵；靠武力强大劫掠别人，靠人多势众威胁别人，因此天下人都不希望他强大；把灾祸损害带给诸侯，把劳累苦难带给百姓，因此仇敌来攻伐时，天下无人援救，王公贵族离散，百姓也不支持。”景公说：“这样的话那要怎么办？”晏子回答说：“请您用谦逊的语言和厚重的礼物来游说诸侯，减轻刑徒免去劳役来向百姓谢罪，这样可以吗？”景公说：“好。”于是用谦逊的语言和厚重的礼物游说而诸侯归附，减轻刑徒免去劳役而百姓亲附，因此小国来朝见，燕国和鲁国也一起来进贡。墨子听说这件事之后说：“晏子懂得治国的道理，得道在于为别人，而失道在于为自己。为别人着想的人被尊重，为自己着想的人被轻视。景公为自己着想，而小国不亲附，为别人着想，而诸侯们都被他役使，这就是在道义上为了别人，而行为上不为自己，所以说晏子懂得治国的道理啊。”

Duke Jing behaved arrogantly toward the external regional princes and thought little of the state’s residents. He favored the courageous and the strong,placed supreme value on pleasures and,accordingly,indulged his desires. The regional princes were displeased,and the people felt no kinship w ith him. The Duke was troubled by this,and he asked Yanzi: “What characterized the conduct of the sage-kings of ancient times?”

Yanzi replied: “Their conduct was upright and not corrupt,and therefore slanderers could not have insinuated themselves. They did not cater to factions and did not indulge in illicit sex,and therefore followers of partisan groups were not tolerated. They restrained themselves,but enriched the people,and therefore the venal tax-collectors were unable to act. They did not invade the territories of large states,and they did not exhaust the people of small states,and therefore all the regional princes wanted them to be honored. They did not devastate people through armed force and did not overawe them through numerical superiority and strength,and therefore everyone in the realm w ished them to be strong. They bestowed their virtuous conduct and moral instructions upon the regional princes; their compassion and beneficence were bestowed upon the common people,and therefore people everywhere rushed to them like a torrent. But now,the rulers of the present era of decline are evil and cater to factions. Therefore,the followers of partisan groups of slanderers and flatterers are numerous. They enrich themselves amply,but restrain the people,and therefore the venal tax-collectors are able to act. They invade the territories of large states and they exhaust the people of small states; therefore,the regional princes do not w ish them to be honored. They devastate people through armed force and overawe other people w ith numbers and strength; therefore,the realm does not w ish them to be strong. Their calamities affect the regional princes,and they impose hardships on the people. Therefore,when enemies mount an attack them,the realm w ill not come to their rescue,ministers of ducal blood w ill disperse,and the people will not support them.”

The Duke said: “If so,what can be done about this?”

Yanzi replied: “M y request is that you seek favor w ith the regional princes by using humble words and lavish gifts. A lleviate punishments,reduce com pu lsory labor,and thereby m ollify the peop le. Is this acceptable?”

The Duke said: “Very well.”

Thereupon,the Duke used humble words and lavish gifts,and the regional princes allied themselves w ith him. He alleviated punishments and reduced compulsory labor,and the people cleaved to him. Hence,small states came to his court and both the states of Yan and Lu offered him tribute.

When Mozi heard about this,he said: “Yanzi knew the Way. The Way lies in deeds on behalf of others,but is lost in deeds on one’s own behalf. Those who act on behalf of others carry considerable weight,and those who act on behalf of themselves carry little weight. When Duke Jing acted on his own behalf,small states did not support him,but when he acted on behalf of others,the regional princes served him. Thus,the Way is found through acting on behalf of others,and its practice is in examining one’s self critically. Yanzi knew the Way.”