Page 103 - 《论语》（三）中·英对照版

颜
渊
第
十
二

12.7

子贡问政。子曰：“足食，足兵，民信之矣。”
子贡曰：“必不得已而去，于斯三者何先？”
曰：“ 去 兵。” 子 贡 曰：“ 必 不 得 已 而 去，
于斯二者何先？”曰：“去食。自古皆有死，
民无信不立。”

Tsze-kung asked about government. The
Master said, “The requisites of government are that
there be sufficiency of food, sufficiency of military
equipment, and the confidence of the people in
their ruler.” Tsze-kung said, “If it cannot be helped,
and one of these must be dispensed with, which of
the three should be foregone first?” “The military
equipment,” said the Master. Tsze-kung again asked,
“If it cannot be helped, and one of the remaining
two must be dispensed with, which of them should
be foregone?” The Master answered, “Part with the

85