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Daoism -> Zhuangzi -> Outer Chapters -> Heaven and Earth -> 10

At an interview with Ji Che, Jiang-li Wan said to him,
:『。』 'Our ruler of Lu asked to receive my instructions.
I declined, on the ground that I had not received any message for him.
Afterwards, however, I told him (my thoughts).
I do not know whether (what I said) was right or not,
and I beg to repeat it to you.
I said to him,
"You must strive to be courteous and to exercise self-restraint;
you must distinguish the public-spirited and loyal,
and repress the cringing and selfish
!』」- who among the people will in that case dare not to be in harmony with you?"'
Ji Che laughed quietly and said,
'Your words, my master,
as a description of the right course for a Di or King,
were like the threatening movement of its arms by a mantis which would thereby stop the advance of a carriage
- inadequate to accomplish your object.
And moreover,
。」if he guided himself by your directions, it would be as if he were to increase the dangerous height of his towers and add to the number of his valuables collected in them - the multitudes (of the people) would leave their (old) ways, and bend their steps in the same direction.'
Jiang-li Wan was awe-struck, and said in his fright,
'I am startled by your words, Master,
nevertheless,
。」 I should like to hear you describe the influence (which a ruler should exert).'
The other said,
天下 'If a great sage ruled the kingdom,
he would stimulate the minds of the people,
使and cause them to carry out his instructions fully, and change their manners;
he would take their minds which had become evil and violent and extinguish them, carrying them all forward to act in accordance with the (good) will belonging to them as individuals,
as if they did it of themselves from their nature,
while they knew not what it was that made them do so.
Would such an one be willing to lookup to Yao and Shun in their instruction of the people as his elder brothers? He would treat them as his juniors, belonging himself to the period of the original plastic ether.
His wish would be that all should agree with the virtue (of that early period), and quietly rest in it.


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