《大学》英译（九）

所谓治国必齐其家者，其家不可教，而能教人者无之。故君子不出家而成教于国。孝者，所以事君也；弟者，所以事长也；慈者，所以使众也。《康诰》曰：“如保赤子。”心诚求之，虽不中，不远矣。未有学养子而后嫁者也。一家仁，一国兴仁；一家让，一国兴让；一人贪戾，一国作乱，其机如此：此谓一言偾事，一人定国。尧舜率天下以仁，而民从之。桀纣率天下以暴，而民从之。其所令反其所好，而民不从。是故君子有诸己而后求诸人；无诸己而后非诸人。所藏乎身不恕，而能喻诸人者，未之有也。故治国在齐其家。诗云：“桃之夭夭，其叶蓁蓁。之子于归，宜其家人。”宜其家人，而后可以教国人。《诗》云：“宜兄宜弟。”宜兄宜弟，而后可以教国人。《诗》云：“其仪不忒，正是四国。”其为父子兄弟足法，而后民法之也。此谓治国在齐其家。<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

What is meant by “In order rightly to govern his State, it is necessary first to regulate the family,” is this: –It is not possible for one to teach others, while he cannot teach his own family. Therefore, the ruler, without going beyond his family, completes the lessons for the State. There is filial piety: –therewith the sovereign should be served. There is fraternal submission: –therewith elders and superiors should be served. There is kindness:–therewith the multitude should be treated. In the Announcement to K’ang, it is said, “Act as if you were watching over an infant.” If a mother is really anxious about it, though she may not hit exactly the wants of her infant, she will not be far from doing so. There never has been a girl who learned to bring up a child, that she might afterwards marry. From the loving example of one family a whole state becomes loving, and from its courtesies the whole state becomes courteous, while, from the ambition and perverseness of the one man, the whole state may be led to rebellious disorder: –such is the nature of the influence. This verifies the saying, “Affairs may be ruined by a single sentence; a kingdom may be settled by its one man.” Yao and Shun led on the empire with benevolence and the people followed them. Jie and Zhou led on the kingdom with violence, and the people followed them. The orders which these issued were contrary to the practices, which they loved, and so the people did not follow them. On this account, the ruler must himself be possessed of the good qualities, and then he may require them in the people. He must not have the bad qualities in himself, and then he may require that they shall not be in the people. Never has there been a man, who, not having reference to his own character and wishes in dealing with others, was able effectually to instruct them. Thus we see how the government of the state depends on the regulation of the family. In the Book of Poetry, it is said, “That peach tree, so delicate and elegant! How luxuriant is its foliage! This girl is going to get married. She will rightly order her household.” Let the household be rightly ordered, and then the people of the State may be taught. In the Book of Poetry, it is said, “They can discharge their duties to their elder brothers. They can discharge their duties to their younger brothers.” Let the ruler discharge his duties to his elder and younger brothers, and then he may teach the people of the State. In the Book of Poetry, it is said, “In his deportment there is nothing wrong; he rectifies all the people of the state.” Yes; when the ruler, as a father, a son, and a brother, is a model, then the people imitate him. This is what is meant by saying, “The government of his kingdom depends on his regulation of the family.”