通则观其所礼，贵则观其所进，富则观其所养，听则观其所行，止则观其所好，习则观其所言，穷则观其所不受，贱则观其所不为。

-《吕氏春秋·论人》【註】

The Eight Observations

• When he is honored, observe whom he respects.

• When he is in high position, observe whom he recommends.

• When he is wealthy, observe whom he supports.

• When he is listened to, observe what he does.

• When he is at leisure, observe what he delights in.

• When he is accustomed, observe what he speaks about.

• When he is poor, observe what he refuses to accept.

• When he is lowly, observe what he will not do.

- 《The Lü Annals-On People》

【註】《吕氏春秋》，又称《吕览》，战国时代末期的一部政治理论散文的汇编，共26卷，160篇，完成于秦王政六年（公元前241年），为秦国相国吕不韦主持，召集门客各派学者编纂而成。

《吕氏春秋》内容涉及甚广，以道家黄老思想为主，兼收儒、名、法、墨、农和阴阳各先秦诸子百家言论，是杂家的代表作，也是中国古代类书的起源。《吕氏春秋》中保存了不少古代的遗文佚事和思想观念。《吕氏春秋》在文学上一个突出成就是创作了丰富多彩的寓言，全书中的寓言故事共有二百多则，这些寓言大都是化用中国古代的神话、 传说、故事而来，还有些是作者自己的创造，在中国寓言史上具有相当重要的地位。

Note:

The 《Lü Annals》 , also known as Lü’s Commentary, is a compilation of political and theoretical prose from the late Warring States period. It consists of 26 volumes and 160 chapters, completed in the sixth year of King Zheng of Qin (241 BCE). The work was organized under the direction of Lü Buwei, Chancellor of Qin, who gathered scholars of various schools among his retainers to compile it.

The content of the 《Lü Annals》 is wide-ranging. While it is primarily grounded in Daoist and Huang-Lao thought, it also incorporates elements from Confucianism, the School of Names, Legalism, Mohism, Agriculturalism, and Yin-Yang theories. As such, it stands as a representative work of the “Miscellaneous School” and marks the beginning of Chinese encyclopedic writings.

The text preserves many fragments of ancient writings, anecdotes, and philosophical ideas. One of its most remarkable literary achievements is its rich collection of fables—over two hundred in total. Most of these fables are adapted from ancient Chinese myths, legends, and stories, while others were original creations by the compilers. They hold an important place in the history of Chinese fable literature.