Analects 19.10

Original Text:

子夏曰君子信而后劳其民未信则以为厉己也信而后谏未信则以为谤己也

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zixia said, “The gentleman imposes labors upon his people only after earning their trust. If he does so before having earned their trust, they will think him cruel. The gentleman remonstrates with [his ruler] only after earning his trust. If he does so before having earned his trust, his ruler will think him insolent.”

Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Zixia said, The gentleman must be trusted before he can demand labor from the common people. If he is not trusted, they will think he is being harsh with them. He must be trusted before he can remonstrate [with his superiors]. If he is not trusted, they will think he is speaking ill of them.

Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

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