家老曰：「財不足，請斂於民。
I beg permission to requisition them from among the people.” “Desist,” ordered Yanzi.
」晏子曰：「止。
“Pleasure, please note, is something that must be shared alike by those above and below.
夫樂者上下同之，故天子與天下，諸侯與境內，自大夫以下，各與其僚，無有獨樂。
From this it follows that the Son of Heaven in his relation to the people of the realm, the various lords in their relations to those within their territories, and each of the greater and lesser court officers in their relations with their subordinates do not engage in pleasures reserved for themselves alone.
今上樂其樂，下傷其費，是獨樂者也。
不可。」
But now you are proposing that a superior should enjoy a pleasure while those beneath him suffer the expense—that is tantamount to reserving a pleasure for private enjoyment; it will not do.