《吕氏春秋·大公无私》英译

晋平公问祁黄羊曰：“南阳无令，其谁可而为之？”祁黄羊对曰：“解狐可。”平公曰：“解狐非子之仇邪？”对曰：“君问可，非问臣之仇也。”平公曰：“善。”遂用之，国人称善焉。居有间，平公又问祁黄羊曰：“国无尉，其谁可为之？”对曰：“午也可。”平公曰：“午非予之子邪？”对曰：“君问可，非问臣之子也。”平公曰：“善。”又遂用之，国人称善焉。孔子闻之曰：“善哉，祁黄羊之论也，外举不避仇，内举不避子，祁黄羊可谓公矣。”<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Most Selfless

One day Marquis Ping of Jin said to Qi Huangyang: ”The need for a magistrate in the county of Nanyang has arisen. Whom do you consider fit for the post?”

“Xie Hu is”, relied Qi Huangyang.

“Is not Xie Hu your personal enemy? Why do you recommend him as the magistrate?”

“You asked me who is fit for the post, not whether Xie Hu is my personal enemy, didn’t you?”

“That’s right,” said Marquis Ping who subsequently approved of the selection.

Xie Hu was indeed a good magistrate of Nanyang County, and the people praised him.

After some days, the Marquis asked Qi Huangyang once again:” The need for a judge of the high court has been felt. Whom do you think fit for the post?”

“Qi Wu is,” answered Qi Huangyang.”Is not Qi Wu your son?”

“You asked me who is fit for the post, not whether Qi Wu is my son, right?”

“Right you are!” agreed Marquis Ping.

Qi Wu, who turned out to be a good judge, was praised highly by the people.

On hearing this, Confucius remarked:” What Qi Huangyang said is marvelous. He recommended a person according to his ability and moral character. He didn’t refuse to recommend his personal enemy or his own son, which shows he was not blinded by prejudice or constrained by street gossip. Qi Huangyang is most selfless.”