113,明君顺人心,安情性

管子语录 汉英双解

【原文】明君顺人心,安情性,而发于众心之所聚。是以令出而不稽,刑设而不用。先王善与民为一体。与民为一体,则是以国守国,以民守民也。然则民不便为非矣。《君臣上》

【汉解】英明的君主,顺从人心,适应人的性情,行事都从众人共同关心的地方出发。这样,命令布置下去,就不会阻碍;刑罚设置了,却用不着。先王就是善于同人民合成一体的。与民一体,那就是用国家保卫国家,用人民保卫人民,人民当然就不去为非作歹了。

【英译】The enlightened prince accords with the hearts of the people., is at ease with their nature, and proceeds from a consensus of the masses. Hence, his orders are put forth with no resistance while punishments are established but not applied. The former kings were skilled at being as one with the people. Since they were as one with their people, they relied on their state to preserve their state and their people to preserve their people.  This being so, the people would not easily commit wrongs.