天覆之

4/15/2016

Heaven Covers Everythíng

东山译

Heaven covers everything; Earth nurtures all. Sages govern the world. Sages are like the sun。 The sun looks only a foot in diameter, but it illuminates everywhere under heaven and everything on earth. Sages' physiques may not be grand, yet the light of their benevolence can reach everybody and everywhere far and wide. When sages are role models in thoughts, speech and actions, the world all over will enjoy peace and order. When the key policies on the top are appropriate, then everything at lower levels will be carried out the right way. When sages practice virtues, the commons all over the country will do everything properly. The governing body is to lead the people to do things the right way. If governors do not behave properly, the people will not obey. For good rulers even if they do not speak, people trust them and behave with integrity. Even if they do not show anger, their mighty power can be felt by the subordinates; even if they do not patronize charity,people still feel their benevolent heart. When the ruler has an idea, people soon put it into practice with honesty. This is regarded as the highest level of governance. Some people say: "The country is now in a chaos, it will be hard to govern properly." This is not true. As we know hungry people are easy to feed, when people feel cold they are not picky for warm clothes. That is why the people in turmoil are craving to be guided back to the realm of virtues and state of peace.

-《Shizi·Shenming》

（原载《海外南开人》104期，4/21/2016）