| | 說民: |
罰重，爵尊；賞輕，刑威。爵尊，上愛民；刑威，民死上。故興國行罰則民利，用賞則上重。法詳則刑繁，法簡則刑省。民不治則亂，亂而治之又亂。故治之於其治，則治；治之於其亂，則亂。 |
| Discussion about the People:...: |
The fact that penalties are heavy makes rank the more honourable, and the fact that rewards are light makes punishments the more awe-inspiring. If rank is honoured, the ruler loves the people, and if punishments are so awe-inspiring, the people still die for their ruler. Therefore, in a prosperous country, the people profit by the application of penalties, and by the distribution of rewards the ruler will gain credit. If the law goes into details, the punishments will be multitudinous; if the laws are multitudinous, punishments will be scarce. If, from a condition of rule and order, the people become lawless, and if one tries to rule this lawlessness, it will only increase; therefore, it should be ruled while it is still in a state of rule and order, then there will be true rule and order; if it is ruled while it is in a state of lawlessness, lawlessness will remain. |
| | 說民: |
民之情也治，其事也亂。故行刑，重其輕者；輕者不生，則重者無從至矣。此謂「治之於其治」也。行刑，重其重者，輕其輕者；輕者不止，則重者無從止矣。此謂「治之於其亂」也。故重輕，則刑去事成，國強；重重而輕輕，則刑至而事生，國削。 |
| Discussion about the People:...: |
It is the nature of the people to be orderly, but it is circumstances that cause disorder. Therefore, in the application of punishments, light offences should be regarded as serious; if light offences do not occur, serious ones have no chance of coming. This is said to be "ruling the people while in a state of law and order". If in the application of punishments, serious offences are regarded as serious, and light offences as light, light offences will not cease and in consequence, there will be no means of stopping the serious ones. This is said to be "ruling the people while in a state of lawlessness". So, if light offences are regarded as serious, punishments will be abolished, affairs will succeed and the country will be strong; but if serious offences are regarded as serious and light ones as light, then punishments will appear; moreover, trouble will arise and the country will be dismembered. |
