湯曰：「藥食先嘗於卑，然後至於貴，藥言先獻於貴，然後聞於卑。
」故藥食嘗乎卑，然後至乎貴，教也；藥言獻於貴，然後聞於卑，道也。
故使人味食然後食者，其得味也多，使人味言然後聞言者，其得言也少。
Tang said, “When medicinal food is taken, it is first tried on people of mean status, and only then is it given to people of high rank.
是以明王之於言，必自他聽之，必自他聞之，必自他擇之，必自他取之，必自他聚之，必自他藏之，必自他行之。
故道以數取之為明，以數行之為章，以數施之萬物為藏。
是故求道者不以目而以心，取道者不以手而以耳。
But medicinal speech is first presented to people of high rank, and only then is it heard by people of mean status.