论语·千乘篇8

子曰:"道千乘之国，敬事而信，节用而爱人，使民以时。"

The Master said:"A country of a thousand war-chariots cannot be administered unless the ruler attends strictly to business, punctually observes his promises, is economical in expenditure, shows affection towards his subjects in general, and uses the labour of the peasantry only at the proper times of year."

Confucius remarked, "In directing the affars of a great nation, a man must be serious in attention to business and faithful and punctual in his engagements. He must study economy in the pubic expenditure, and love the welfare of the people. He must employ the people at the proper time of the year."

The Mater said, "To lead a State of a thousand war chariots, one must treat affairs with respect and be trustworthy, spend economically and love the people, directing the masses only during the proper seasons."

孔子说: 治理一个拥有一千辆兵车的国家，处理任何事情都要严谨认真，都要诚实守信。要节俭节约，要爱好官吏。役使民众的时候，要逐一不误农时。

“敬事而信”中"敬"，指做事的态度，即要认真；而"倍", 指的是诚信，不能务虚行假。"节用而爱人"中的"节用"自然是节约费用的意思，而"爱人"的"人"却不是一般意义上的人民。在这句话中，孔子使用了"人"， 也是用了"民"， 其寓意并非现在同行意义的"人民"。

所谓的"使民以时"，即役使百姓时要注意适当的时机，不能随心所欲，破坏自然规律。