若使民常畏死，而为奇者，吾得执而杀之，孰敢﹖
And even supposing people were generally frightened of death and did not regard it as an everyday thing, which of us would dare to seize them and slay them?
常有司杀者杀，夫代司杀者杀，是谓代大匠斫。
There is the Lord of Slaughter always ready for this task, and to do it in his stead is like thrusting oneself into the master-carpenter's place and doing his chipping for him.
夫代大匠斫者，希有不伤其手矣。
Now “he who tries to do the master-carpenter's chipping for him is lucky if he does not cut his hand.”