」「慎始奈何？
“It means that the ruler of a state must be careful of beginnings,” he replied.
」曰：「正之。
“What must one do to be careful of beginnings?” asked the marquis.
“One must correctly align them,” said Master Wu.
」「正之奈何？
“What must one do to correctly align them?” asked the marquis.
」「明智。
“One must deepen one’s vision.” “If one is not wise, how can one perceive what is correct?” asked the marquis.
“One must listen to many and select from what one hears; that is how to become deeply wise.
」「智不明何以見正？
In ancient times, therefore, when a ruler first set out to rule his state, if a court officer had something to say, or if a manof-service sought an audience, or if a commoner had a request, their wishes were honored.
」「多聞而擇焉，所以明智也。
If a member of the ruling clan came to pay his respects, the ruler would talk with him.
And, when visitors came from afar, they were not turned away—thus, one can say that communication was not blocked.
是故古者君始聽治，大夫而一言，士而一見，庶人有謁，必達，公族請問，必語，四方至者勿距，可謂不壅蔽矣；分祿必及，用刑必中，君心必仁，思君之利，除民之害，可謂不失民眾矣；君身必正，近臣必選，大夫不兼官，執民柄者不在一族，可謂不權勢矣。
In distributing stipendiary positions, those rulers made sure that the positions went to all who merited them, and, in imposing punishments, they made sure that the punishments were appropriate.
6此皆春秋之意，而元年之本也。」
The ruler’s heart must be empathetic; he must consider what will benefit the people and eliminate that which harms them—this is what is termed ‘not losing the people.’ The ruler must be upright in his personal behavior and selective in forming close associations with officers.
Court officers must not hold concurrent responsibilities, and those who govern the people must not belong to a single clan; this is what is termed ‘not losing one’s hold on power.’ These are all things intended by the Spring and Autumn Annals and are the basis of a ruler’s inaugural year as well.