道之以政

道之以政，齊之以刑，民免而無恥；道之以德，齊之以禮，有恥且格。

-- 《論語 · 為政》【註】

有国有家者，不患寡而患不均，不患贫而患不安。盖均无贫，和无寡，安无倾。

-- 《论语. 季氏》

People are Restrained by Edicts

東山 譯

If the people are restrained by edicts only, and uniformity is sought by punishments, they can keep out of troubles, but they are not ashamed of crimes. If people are led by role models in morality, and uniformity is achieved by the rules of propriety, then they will have the sense of shame and will become law-abiding happily.

《The Analects · On Administration》

The emperor and princes do not worry about rarity but unfair distribution of wealth; do not worry about poverty but unrest of society. So if wealth is fairly distributed for people, they won’t feel the poverty; when all in harmony, people won't feel the scarcity. When peace and stability prevail，the country cannot be subdued.

-- 《The Analects. Biography of Ji Clan》

【註】見“三军可夺帅也”【註】

（原载《海外南开人》92期，04/19/2015）