孟子谓齐宣王曰:“王之臣有托其妻子于其友而之楚游者,比其反也,则冻馁其妻子,则如之何?” 王曰:“弃之。” 曰:“士师不能治士,如之何?” 王曰:“已之。” 曰:“四境之内不治,则如之何?” 王顾左右而言他。
Mencius said to Duke Xuan of the Qi State, “Suppose one of your officials entrusts a friend to take care of his wife and children on his leaving for Chu State. When he returns, he finds his wife and children suffering cold and hunger. How should your official treat this friend?” Duke Xuan said, “He should break off relations with him.” Mencius asked, “If a leading officer in charge of penalty is not a ble to control his subordinates, how would you do with this officer?” Duke Xuan said, “I would discharge him from his post.” Mencius asked, “Then if the political affairs of a country are not administered well, how would you do?” Seeing that this concerned himself and he could not answer, Duke Xuan looked away and deliberately chatted somethings else.
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