说苑/明主者有三懼：一曰處尊位而恐不聞其過；二曰得意而恐驕；三曰聞天下之至言而恐不能行。

明主者有三懼：一曰處尊位而恐不聞其過；二曰得意而恐驕；三曰聞天下之至言而恐不能行。

Eric Henry

An enlightened ruler has three fears: the first is that, owing to his high position, his faults may not be brought to his attention; the second is that, owing to satisfaction at some great accomplishment, he may grow proud; and the third is that, though he may hear the wisest advice in all the realm, he may be unable to put it into practice.

何以識其然也？

Eric Henry

How can we know that this is so?

越王勾踐與吳人戰，大敗之，兼有九夷。

Eric Henry

When Gou Jian the king of Yue78 fought the men of Wu, he inflicted a great defeat on them79 and extended his sway to the nine tribes of the Yi.

當是時也，南面而立，近臣三，遠臣五，令群臣曰：「聞吾過而不告者其罪刑。

Eric Henry

At that time he faced south and issued a decree to all his near and distant officers: “If anyone should hear that I have been at fault and should fail to report that fact, the crime will merit execution.” This is an example of a ruler fearing that, owing to his high position, his faults might not be brought to his attention. In former times Lord Wen of Jin fought a great battle with Chu, won a great victory, and set fire to Chu’s encampment, after which the fire burned for three days.

」此處尊位而恐不聞其過者也。

Eric Henry

After he had withdrawn from the field, Lord Wen’s face had a worried look.

昔者，晉文公與楚人戰，大勝之，燒其軍，火三日不滅，文公退而有憂色，侍者曰：「君大勝楚，今有憂色，何也？

Eric Henry

One of his attendants said, “You have won a great victory over Chu—why do you now look worried?” “I have heard,” said Lord Wen, “that only a sage can be secure after winning a great victory.

」文公曰：「吾聞能以戰勝而安者，其為聖人乎！

Eric Henry

Those who win through sudden good fortune are never free of danger.

若夫詐勝之徒，未嘗不危也，吾是以憂。

Eric Henry

That is why I am worried.” This is an example of a ruler fearing that he may grow proud owing to his satisfaction at a great accomplishment.

」此得意而恐驕者也。

Eric Henry

In former times, Lord Huan of Qi obtained the services of Guan Zhong and Xi Peng, who then laid their theories and proposals before him.

昔齊桓公得管仲、隰朋，辯其言，說其義，正月之朝，令具大牢，進之先祖，桓公西面而立，管仲、隰朋東面而立，桓公贊曰：114「自吾得聽二子之言，吾目加明，耳加聰，不敢獨擅，願薦之先祖。

Eric Henry

On the day of the first-month sacrifices, Lord Huan had a great feast with beef, mutton, and pork, which he offered to the ancestors of the ruling clan. Lord Huan stood facing west, while Guan Zhong and Xi Peng stood facing east.

」此聞天下之至言而恐不能行者也。

Eric Henry

Then Lord Huan made the following announcement: “Having enjoyed the privilege of hearing you two gentlemen speak, my vision has grown clearer and my hearing keener.

Eric Henry

I dare not keep your words as a personal possession merely but desire to present them to my forebears.” This is an example of a ruler fearing that, though he may hear the wise advice of all the realm, he may yet be unable to put it into practice.