民眾有過失者，則明白的指出其過失所在，以仁愛感化，民眾有爭奪，則講解禮讓以排解，樹立講求仁義禮讓的典範，為百姓昭示綱常之道（仁、義、禮、智、信）。

When people made mistakes, their erroneous ways were clearly pointed out and explained, and also benevolence was used to transform them.  If there were arguments and competitions between people, the propriety of yielding is explained in order to resolve the conflict.  A paradigm for the aspiration of benevolence, righteousness, and the propriety of yielding was established to demonstrate to people the invariable virtues of the Way (benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness). 

如果有人不按照這樣做的話，即使是有權有勢的，也會被罷免，而民眾都會視之為禍害。這就叫做『小康』社會。

If anyone fails to abide by these codes, even a powerful ruler will be removed (impeached), regarded as the pest of society by the public.  This is the so called society of Small Tranquility.

（淨空老法師：這正是夏商周三代的治理，是中國歷史上極其昌盛太平的時代。）

(Venerable Master Chin Kung:  Such is the Reign of the Three Dynasties of Shia, Shang, and Zhou, which was the epoch of extreme prosperity and peace in Chinese History.)

◎                   孔子曰：「夫禮者，先王以承天之道，以治人之情；故失之者死，得之者生。」

Confucius said: “The rites are the rules of propriety for the ancient kings to retain the Way of Heaven, and to regulate the feelings of men. Therefore, he who neglects them may be regarded as dead, and he who observes them, as alive.”

選自《群書治要》卷七之《禮記·禮運》

Excerpted from A Compendium of Books on the Essentials of Governing, vol. 7, “Book of Rites, Operation of Rites.”

譯文】孔子說：「所謂的禮，是古代先王用來承受大道規律和調治人情，因此喪失禮的人則會滅亡，得到禮的人就能生存。

[Translation]  Confucius said: “The so called Rites are the rules of conduct for the ancient kings to retain the mandates of Heaven, and to regulate the feelings of men.  Therefore, he who neglects them will be annihilated, and he who observes them will survive.”

◎                   失之則天理滅，人欲肆，焉得不死。

Lose it, the Way of Heaven is extinct, human desires flourish, how can one not die.

選自《禮記菁華錄》卷四 之<禮運第九˙侯官吳曾祺評註>。

Excerpted from The Essentials of the Book of Rites, vol. 4, “Operation of Rites, chapter 9, annotated by Official Lord Wu Zheng Chi.”

【譯文】失掉禮就會使天道泯滅，失去仁義禮智信之五常，因而人欲氾濫，怎麼能夠不帶來敗家亡身之惡果呢？

[Translation]   If the Rites (Rules of Propriety) are lost, the Way of Heaven will become extinct, the five cardinal virtues of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness will be lost; then, human desires will flourish. How can this not bring the evil karma (retribution) of the ruination of a family and the death of a person?

◎捨財。消災。集福。為人生一大事。

Donate properties, diminish misfortunes, and accumulate merits are the paramount thing in life.

【譯文】捨財布施，改過消災，修善積福，這是人生中重要的事情。

[Translation] Give away property so as to practice charity; change mistaken ways so as to eliminate misfortunes; and cultivate virtues in order to accumulate merits are things of paramount importance in life.

◎                   佛所行處，國邑丘聚，靡不蒙化。天下和順，日月清明，風雨以時，災厲不起，國豐民安。兵戈無用，崇德興仁，務修禮讓；國無盜賊，無有怨枉；強不凌弱，各得其所。

Wherever the Buddha travels, whether to a country, a city, or a village, all the people will be transformed (by his teachings). All the worlds will be in peace and harmony. The sun and moon will shine clear and bright. Winds and rain will come as needed. Disasters and epidemics will not occur. Countries will flourish and people will enjoy peace.  Soldiers or weapons will not be deployed. Virtue will be revered and benevolence will be advocated. People will practice courtesy and humility. Countries will have no thieves or robbers. There will be neither injustice nor resentment. The strong will not oppress the weak. Everyone will be properly placed.

（佛陀教育，普及推行之處所，必然獲得如是實效之豐果。）

(Wherever the teachings of the Buddha are widely expounded and practiced, it is natural to harvest the abundant fruit of such realized effects.)

選自《佛說大乘無量壽莊嚴清淨平等覺經》。

Excerpted from The Buddha speaks the Mahayana Sutra of the Immeasurable life of the Splendors of Purity, Equality, and Enlightenment.

【譯文】佛陀教育所推行的地區，大如一個國家、都市，小至鄉鎮、村落，人人都接受佛法感化，變化氣質，皆知斷惡向善。則天下（社會）一片祥和，國家和睦，人事和諧，順應天時，大眾和睦相處。

[Translation] Wherever the teachings of the Buddha are widely expounded and practiced, whether in a large area such as a country, a city, or a small area such as a county or a village, all the people will accept the Buddha-Dharma and change for the better, their demeanors will be transformed, and all will know how to eradicate afflictions and cultivate virtues.  Hence, the world (and societies) will be enveloped in the ambience of peace and harmony, countries will have peaceful relationships, humans and things will be harmonious, all will be in accord with the celestial movements, and people will be friendly towards each other.

日月天體的運轉一切正常；風調雨順，不會有反常的現象。天時、地利、人和，沒有種種自然災害。國家的物產豐富，百姓豐衣足食，身心安順，自在安樂，各得其所，天下太平，自然也沒有人為的戰爭災害。

The sun and moon will orbit normally; the winds will be gentle and the rain will come when needed without abnormality.  Heaven is seasonal, earth is rich, people are in harmony; hence, there will be no natural disasters.  Countries will produce abundant goods.  People will live in prosperity; enjoy good health, the serenity of mind, free will, and bliss.  All will be properly placed and world peace attained, naturally there will be no men-made disasters of wars.

統治者一定要教授和培養百姓的守禮謙讓的品行。讓社會，人人盡知崇尚道德，振興仁義。處世待人廣施仁慈。日常所行皆有秩序，都能禮讓接物。如此，國家大眾奉公守法。國家自然就不會再有盜竊搶奪之事發生，社會的治安自然轉好，百姓無論地位高低，貧富貴賤，彼此尊重，更不會仗恃強勢欺凌弱小。以誠待人，無有坑害、冤枉。而使每個人都能安居樂業。

Rulers must educate people to observe propriety and to act with humility and the virtue of yielding.  To let every one, in a society, revere virtues and advocate benevolence and righteousness.  People will treat each other with loving-kindness.  Conduct daily activities in an orderly fashion and handle things with courtesy and submissiveness.  In this way, the public of any country will be law-abiding citizens.  Countries naturally would have no such crimes as theft and robbery, and public safety will naturally improve for the better.  Citizens will respect each other, regardless of their social status, or whether they are rich or poor.  The strong and powerful will not bully the weak or the minority.  People will treat each other with honesty and no one will be victimized or defrauded.   Everyone will live peaceful under safe conditions and be happily employed.

◎大乘修清淨、平等、正覺之因，則成智慧、無量壽、莊嚴之果。

Mahayana buddhist cultivates the causations for purity, equality, and enlightenment; hence accomplishes the fruition of wisdom, infinite life, and resplendence.

【譯文】大乘佛法，修清淨、平等、正覺的殊勝因行，就能感得智慧、無量壽、莊嚴之殊妙果報。

[Translation]  Mahayana Buddhist cultivates the unparallel causal conducts of purity, equality, and enlightenment; hence will be able to attain the supreme fruition of wisdom, infinite life, and resplendence.

　　◎謹言慎行，明哲保身。

Prudent in speech and circumspect in deeds, the wise and knowledgeable can protect his person.

【譯文】小心謹慎地說話、做事。明智的人，洞察事理，不參與可能給自己帶來危險的事。

[Translation]  Be careful and prudent in your speech and deeds.  A wise person is insightful about worldly matters and will not participate in anything that will put him in a dangerous position.

　　◎知事少時煩惱少，識人多處是非多。

The less one knows the less one worries; the more people one meets, the more trouble one has (gossip one hears).

【譯文】當一個人知道的事情比較少的時候，擔心和掛慮就會比較少。當一個人認識的人比較多的情況下，是非就可能會比較多。

[Translation] When a person knows fewer matters, he will have less worry and anxiety; when a person knows many people, there will be more rights and wrongs.

◎司馬光云：「君子囊括不言，以避小人之禍。」

Sima Guang said: “Gentlemen embrace silence in order to avoid the calamity caused by vile persons.”

選自《資治通鑑》卷四十八之<漢紀四十八·漢靈帝建寧二年>

Quoated from Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 48, “Chronicle of Han ch. 48, Emperor Lin of Han Dynasty, Year 2 of Genlin.”

【譯文】司馬光說：「君子隱匿，閉口不言，不發議論，以求躲避小人們的陷害。」

[Translation]  Sima Guang said: “Gentlemen embrace silence and will not speak a word, or give any opinions, in order to avoid the entrapment and ruination of vile persons.”

　　◎范純仁云：「戒爾勿多言，多言眾所忌。不慎樞機，災厄從此始。」

Fan Chunren said: “I caution you to speak little (Don’t be talkative); a talkative person may easily offend people’s sensitivities.  Careless speech sprouts calamity.”

選自《誡子侄詩》，宋范質（范魯公）。

Quoted from Poem to Caution Son and Nephew, Fan Zi (Duke of Lu) of the Song Dynasty.

【譯文】范純仁說：「戒慎不要多說話，多說話容易觸犯到眾人的忌諱。在語言方面不能謹慎，災厄就會從此開始。」

[Translation]  Fan Chunren said: “Be prudent and speak little, a talkative person may easily hit a nerve and offend someone.  Careless with words may well be the inception of disasters.”

(Andi’s note: 易·繫辞上》：“言行，君子之枢机。”后因以“枢机”喻言语。)

◎孔子與惡人言。故遜詞以免禍。

Confucius spoke humbly when conversing with vile persons to avoid calamity.

選自《少年進德錄》，丁福保編。

Quotes from Aphorisms for Youths to Aspire (Ascend) to Virtues, compiled by Ting Fubo

【譯文】孔子與不善的人對話，總是言詞恭順以免產生禍患（災殃）。

[Translation]  When Confucius had a conversation with vile persons, he would use words of respect and humility to prevent ruination (disasters).