Classic of Documents
周書 Zhōu shū
秦誓 第五十八 Book Fifty-eight · Qín shì
公曰：「嗟！我士。聽無譁。予誓告汝群言之首。
The duke said, “Ah! my officers, listen to me without any noise. I solemnly announce to you the most important of all sayings.
「古人有言曰：『民訖自若是多盤。責人斯無難，惟受責俾如流，是惟艱哉！』
It is this which the ancients have said, ‘Thus it is with all people,—they mostly love their ease. In reproving others there is no difficulty, but to receive reproof, and allow it to have a free course, this is difficult!’
「我心之憂，日月逾邁，若弗云來。
The sorrow of my heart is this, that the days and months pass away, as if they would not come again.
「惟古之謀人，則曰未就予忌；惟今之謀人，姑將以為親。雖則云然，尚猷詢茲黃髮，則罔所愆。
“There were my old counsellors,—I said, ‘They will not accommodate themselves to me,’ and I hated them. There were my new counsellors, and I would for a time give my confidence to them. Although it may be so with old men and new, hereafter I will take advice from the men of yellow hair, and then I shall be free from error.
「番番良士，旅力既愆，我尚有之。仡仡勇夫，射御不違，我尚不欲。惟截截善諞言，俾君子易辭，我皇多有之。
That good old officer!—all his strength is exhausted, but may I still have him! That dashing brave officer!—his shooting and charioteering are faultless, but I had rather not wish him! As to men of quibbles, skilful at cunning words, and able to make the superior man change his purposes, what have I to do with making much use of them?
「昧昧我思之：如有一介臣，斷斷猗無他技，其心休休焉，其如有容。人之有技，若已有之；人之彥聖，其心好之，不啻如自其口出，是能容之。以保我子孫黎民，亦職有利哉！
“I have deeply thought and concluded;—Let me have but one resolute minister, plain and sincere, without other abilities, but having a simple complacent mind, and possessed of generosity, regarding the talents of others, as if he himself possessed them; and when he finds accomplished and sage-like men, loving them in his heart more than his mouth expresses, really showing himself able to bear them:—such a minister would be able to preserve my descendants and my people, and would indeed be a giver of benefits.
「人之有技，冒疾以惡之；人之彥聖，而違之，俾不達，是不能容。以不能保我子孫黎民，亦曰殆哉！
“But if the minister, when he finds men of ability, be jealous and hates them; if, when he finds accomplished and sage-like men, he oppose them and do not allow their advancement, showing himself really not able to bear them;—such a man will not be able to protect my descendants and people; and will there not indeed be dangers from him?
「邦之杌隉，曰由一人；邦之榮懷，亦尚一人之慶。」
“The prosperity and unsettledness of a State may arise from one man. The glory and tranquillity of a State also may perhaps arise from the excellence of one man.”