The Original Quote:
哀公问于有若曰：“年饥，用不足，如之何？”有若对曰：“盍彻乎？”曰：“二，吾犹不足，如之何其彻也？”对曰：“百姓足，君孰与不足？百姓不足，君孰与足？”
Āi gōng wèn yú Yǒu Ruò yuē: “Nián jī, yòng bù zú, rú zhī hé?” Yǒu Ruò duì yuē: “Hé chè hū?” Yuē: “Èr, wú yóu bù zú, rú zhī qí chè yě?” Duì yuē: “Bǎixìng zú, jūn shú yǔ bù zú? Bǎixìng bù zú, jūn shú yǔ zú?”
English Translation:
Duke Ai inquired of You Ruo, saying, "The year is one of famine, and the state's revenues are insufficient. What shall be done?" You Ruo replied, "Why not adopt the tithe [a ten-percent tax]?" The Duke said, "Even with a twenty-percent tax, I find it insufficient. How could I adopt the tithe?" You Ruo answered, "If the people have sufficiency, how could the ruler alone be in want? If the people are in want, how could the ruler alone have sufficiency?"
Key Concepts Explained:
- 仁 (Rén): Benevolence or humaneness—the core virtue of Confucianism, emphasizing empathy and care for others, especially those in subordinate positions.
- 君 (Jūn): Ruler or sovereign—in this context, a figure whose legitimacy depends on moral governance and the welfare of the people.
- 民 (Mín): The people or commoners—whose prosperity is seen as the foundation of a stable and righteous state.
- 彻 (Chè): The tithe—a traditional tax system of one-tenth, symbolizing moderation and fairness in governance.
Cultural Context:
This passage from the Analects (Book 12, Chapter 9) reflects Confucius’s vision of benevolent governance (仁政, Rén Zhèng), where the ruler’s duty is to prioritize the people’s well-being. In ancient China, the relationship between the sovereign and subjects was reciprocal: a ruler who overtaxes his people in times of hardship violates the Mandate of Heaven and risks rebellion. You Ruo’s counsel—to reduce taxes despite apparent scarcity—illustrates a timeless principle: sustainable prosperity flows from the bottom up, not the top down. This idea resonates beyond feudalism, informing modern leadership ethics, economic policy, and corporate responsibility, where the health of the whole depends on the welfare of all its parts.