The Master discusses with his disciples and unveil his preoccupations with society. Tr. Legge (en), Lau (en) and Couvreur (fr).
Light taxation the best way to secure the government from embrrassment for want of funds.
1. The duke Âi inquired of Yû Zo, saying, "The year is one of scarcity, and the returns for expenditure are not sufficient;– what is to be done?"
2. Yû Zo replied to him, "Why not simply tithe the people?"
3. "With two tenths," said the duke, "I find it not enough;– how could I do with that system of one tenth?"
4. Yû Zo answered, "If the people have plenty, their prince will not be left to want alone. If the people are in want, their prince cannot enjoy plenty alone."
Legge XII.9.
Duke Al asked Yu Juo, 'The harvest is bad, and I have not sufficient to cover expenditure. What should I do?' Yu Juo answered, 'What about taxing the people one part in ten?' 'I do not have sufficient as it is when I tax them two parts in ten. How could I possibly tax them one part in ten?' 'When the people have sufficient, who is there to share your insufficiency? When the people have insufficient, who is there to share your sufficiency?'
Lau [12:9]
Ngai, prince de Lou, dit à Iou Jo : « Cette année les récoltes ont manqué ; et je n'ai pas assez pour faire face aux besoins ; que faut-il faire ? » Iou Jo répondit : « Pourquoi ne percevez-vous pas la dixième partie des produits de la terre ? » Le prince dit : « Les deux dixièmes ne me suffisent pas. Comment puis-je n'exiger qu'un dixième ? » Iou Jo répliqua : « Si le peuple ne manque de rien, comment le prince serait-il le seul dans le besoin ? Si le peuple est dans le besoin, comment le prince serait-il le seul à ne manquer de rien ? »
Couvreur XII.9.
The Analects of Confucius – Lun Yu XII. 9. (302) – Chinese off/on – Français/English
Alias the Lunyu, the Lun Yü, the Analects, les Entretiens du maître avec ses disciples.
The Book of Odes, The Analects, Great Learning, Doctrine of the Mean, Three-characters book, The Book of Changes, The Way and its Power, 300 Tang Poems, The Art of War, Thirty-Six Strategies
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