」對曰：「臣聞為國之道，食有勞而祿有功，使有能而賞必行，罰必當。
“I have heard,” said Li Ke, “that the way to rule a state is to feed those who perform laborious services and to award stipends to those who achieve merit.
」文侯曰：「吾賞罰皆當，而民不與，何也？
One must employ the capable and ensure that the distribution of awards is carried out and that punishments are appropriate.” “My rewards and punishments are appropriate,” said the marquis, “but the people still don’t follow me.
Why?” “Surely there are personnel within the state whose stipends exceed their merit,” said Li Ke.
」對曰：「國其有淫民乎？
“I have heard that one should take away the stipends of such people so as to attract men-of-service from the four directions.
臣聞之曰，奪淫民之祿，以來四方之士。
Such people, with no achievements of their own, live on the stipends their fathers won through merit.
其父有功而祿，其子無功而食之，出則乘車馬、衣美裘、以為榮華，入則修竽瑟鍾石之聲，而安其子女之樂，以亂鄉曲之教，如此者，奪其祿以來四方之士，此之謂奪淫民也。」
In public they ride in carriages and wear fine furs so as to make a grand display, while at home they maintain fine sets of reed pipes, zithers, bells, and chimes; and they arrange matters so that their children may enjoy pleasure as well, which throws local teachings into disarray.
Thus, taking away their stipends to attract men-of-service from the four directions is known as ‘getting rid of excess personnel.