20.2 子张问于孔子曰：“何如斯可以从政矣？” 子曰：“尊五美，屏四恶1，斯可以从政矣。” 子张曰：“何谓五美？” 子曰：“君子惠而不费，劳而不怨，欲而不贪，泰而不骄，威而不猛。” 子张曰：“何谓惠而不费？” 子曰：“因民之所利而利之，斯不亦惠而不费乎？择可劳而劳之，又谁怨？欲仁而得仁，又焉贪？君子无众寡，无小大，无敢慢，斯不亦泰而不骄乎？君子正其衣冠，尊其瞻视2，俨然人望而畏之，斯不亦威而不猛乎？” 子张曰：“何谓四恶？” 子曰：“不教而杀谓之虐；不戒视成谓之暴；慢令致期谓之贼；犹之与人也3，出纳之吝谓之有司4。”
【译文】
子张问孔子说：“怎样才可以从事政治？” 孔子说：“尊崇五种美德，摒除四种恶政，这样就可以从事政治了。” 子张问：“五种美德指什么？” 孔子说：“君子施惠于民而自己无所耗费，使唤百姓而百姓不怨恨，有意欲而无所贪求，安泰而不骄傲，威严而不凶猛。” 子张问：“怎样才是施惠于民而自己无所耗费？” 孔子说：“根据百姓能够得到利益的具体所在而使他们得利，这不就是施惠于民而自己无所耗费吗？选择可以使唤百姓的时候而使唤他们，又有谁会怨恨呢？意欲仁道而达到仁道，又贪求什么呢？无论人多人少，无论势力大小，君子都不敢怠慢，这不就是安泰而不骄傲吗？君子衣冠整齐，仪容尊严，庄重的神情令人望见就生出敬畏之心，这不就是威严而不凶猛吗？” 子张问：“四种恶政是什么呢？” 孔子说：“不先行教育就加杀戮叫做虐；不先告诫而要求立即成功叫做暴；政令下达后，前期懈怠，后突然限期紧迫叫做贼；同是给人财物，却锱铢必较，这是具体办事人员的作派。”
【YZG解释】
子张问孔子说：“怎样才可以从事政治？” 孔子说：“尊崇五种美德，摒除四恶，这样就可以从事政治了。” 子张问：“五种美德指什么？” 孔子说：“君子施惠于民而自己无所耗费，使百姓劳作而百姓没有怨言，有追求而不贪婪，安泰而不骄傲，威严而不凶猛。” 子张问：“怎样才是施惠于民而自己无所耗费？” 孔子说：“百姓在哪方面能够得到利益，就引导他们在哪方面努力而使他们得利，这不就是施惠于民而自己无所耗费吗？选择恰当的时间让百姓做该做的事，使民以时，量民力而行，又有谁会怨恨呢？追求仁道就可以达到仁道，又贪求什么呢？无论人多人少，无论势力大小，君子都不敢怠慢，这不就是安泰而不骄傲吗？君子衣冠整肃，仪容端庄，庄重的神情令人望见就生出敬畏之心，这不就是威严而不凶猛吗？” 子张问：“四恶是什么呢？” 孔子说：“不事先教导就用刑罚杀戮叫做虐；不先告诫而强求成功叫做暴；政令下达前期懈怠拖拉，后期突然限期紧迫叫做贼；无论如何都要给与，却吝啬于给，锱铢必较，这是具体办事人员的作风。”
【English Translation】
Zi Zhang1 asked Confucius: “How can one engage in politics?”
Confucius said: “Honor the five virtues and eliminate the four evils, then one can engage in politics.”
Zi Zhang asked: “What are the five virtues?”
Confucius said: “A noble person benefits the people without any personal expense, makes the people work without complaint, has pursuits without greed, is at ease without arrogance, and is dignified without fierceness.”
Zi Zhang asked: “How to benefit the people without any personal expense?”
Confucius said: “Guide the people to strive in the field where they can gain benefits, isn’t this benefiting the people without any personal expense? Choose the right time for the people to do what they should do, and act according to the people’s ability, in this way, who would complain? Pursuing the way of benevolence can make one achieve it, what else is there to be greedy for? No matter how many people there are or how powerful one is, a noble person does not dare to neglect, isn’t this being at ease without arrogance? A noble person dresses neatly and solemnly with a dignified appearance, and his solemn expression makes people feel awed when they see him, isn’t this being dignified without fierceness?”
Zi Zhang asked: “What are the four evils?”
Confucius said: “Using punishment and killing without prior instruction is called tyranny. Demanding success without prior admonition is called violence. Being sluggish and dragging in the early stage when the government order is issued, and suddenly setting a tight deadline in the later stage is called theft. Offering but being stingy and haggling over every penny is the style of specific official workers.”
【Note】