论语古文今英译

子为政焉用杀

（颜渊篇12.19）

    季康子问政于孔子曰：“如杀无道，以就有道，何如？”孔子对曰：“子为政，焉用杀？子欲善而民善矣。君子之德风，人小之德草，草上之风，必偃。”

【今译】

    季康子问孔子如何治理政事，说：“如果杀掉无道的人来成全有道的人，怎么样？”孔子说：“您治理政事，哪里用得着杀戮的手段呢？您只要想行善，老百姓也会跟着行善。在位者的品德好比风，在下的人的品德好比草，风吹到草上，草就必定跟着倒。”

【英译】

    Chi K'ang asked Confucius about government, saying, "What do you say to killing the unprincipled for the good of the principled?" Confucius replied, "Sir, in carrying on your government, why should you use killing at all? Let your evinced desires be for what is good, and the people will be good. The relation between superiors and inferiors is like that between the wind and the grass. The grass must bend, when the wind blows across it."