」太公對曰：「治國之道，愛民而已。
“Governing a state consists merely of loving the people,” Tai-gong replied.
」曰：「愛民若何？
“What does loving the people consist of?” said King Wu.
」曰：「利之而勿害，成之勿敗，生之勿殺，與之勿奪，樂之勿苦，喜之勿怒，此治國之道，使民之誼也，愛之而已矣。
“Benefiting them rather than harming them, causing them to succeed rather than fail, allowing them to live rather than killing them, giving them goods rather than seizing their property, making them joyous rather than miserable, and pleasing them rather than angering them; this is the proper way to govern. It consists of doing what is fitting for the people, that is, loving them.
民失其所務，則害之也；農失其時，則敗之也；有罪者重其罰，則殺之也；重賦斂者101，則奪之也；多徭役以罷民力102，則苦之也；勞而擾之，則怒之也。
“When the people lose their livelihoods, that is to harm them; when farmers are unable to work in due season, that is to cause them to fail; when offenders are severely punished, that is to kill them; when taxes and requisitions are heavy, that is to seize their goods; when the people are made weary by corvée labor, that is to cause them to be miserable; and, when the people are harassed and given heavy tasks, that is to make them angry.
故善為國者，遇民如父母之愛子，兄之愛弟，聞其饑寒為之哀，見其勞苦為之悲。」
From this one can see that one who is skilled in ruling a state treats the people lovingly, as parents treat their children and as elder brothers treat their younger brothers.
When such a ruler hears that the people are cold and hungry, he grieves; and, when he sees the people immersed in toil, he is pained.