公曰：「選射之禮，寡人厭之矣。
吾欲得天下勇士，與之圖國。
Lord Jing said, “I’m sick of the ritual of selecting archers—I just want to secure the services of all the courageous men in the realm and use them to benefit my state.” Yanzi said to him, “A person of rank10 without ritual is the same as a commoner, and a commoner without ritual is the same as a bird or beast.
」晏子對曰：「君子無禮，是庶人也。
When an officer is courageous, he will as a rule assassinate his lord; when a son possesses great strength, he will assassinate his elders.
庶人無禮，是禽獸也。
夫臣勇多則弒其君，子力多則殺其長。
The fact that people don’t dare do such things is entirely owing to ritual.
然而不敢者，惟禮之謂也。
Ritual is that which governs people, just as reins are that which govern horses.
禮者，所以御民也；轡者，所以御馬也。
無禮而能治國家者，嬰未之聞也。
I have never heard of a man who was able to govern a state without ritual.” “Well said!” exclaimed Lord Jing.
」景公曰：「善。
」乃飭射更席，以為上客，終日問禮。
He thereupon had an edict produced laying out the ritual prescriptions for archery and changed the mat on which he sat [so that Yanzi occupied a higher position] and questioned him throughout the day concerning ritual.