2019-09-15_《群书治要》——君道 Ways of Being a Ruler (Rule 3)
【文言】(Classical Chinese)
福生於無為，而患生於多欲。故知足，然後富從 之；德宜君人，然後貴從之。故貴爵而賤德者，雖為 天子不貴矣；貪物而不知止者，雖有天下不富矣。 福生于无为，而患生于多欲。故知足，然后富从之；德宜君人，然后贵从之。故贵爵而贱德者，虽为天子不贵矣；贪物而不知止者，虽有天下不富矣。
【白话】(Vernacular Chinese)
幸福产生于内心知足而无所外求，而忧患产 生于人的欲望过多。所以一个人知道满足，然后富裕会随着到来；德行适合领导民众，然后尊贵就会随之而来。所以看重爵位而轻视德行的人，虽然做了天子也并不高贵；贪求财物而不知休止的人，虽然拥有天下也并不富足。【英译】(Translation in English)
Contentment breeds happiness, but excessive cravings breed misery. While a contented person may enjoy wealth eventually, a virtuous leadership brings forth nobility. Hence, a person who craves for titles of nobility but disregards moral integrity cannot be deemed a man of honor despite becoming a ruler; and a person with endless cravings for wealth will never be contented despite owning the whole world. (Scroll 8: Han Shi Wai Zhuan)