The Charge to Yue, Part 2

Fu Yue, having received the command to oversee the hundred officials, then presented his words to the king, saying: "Alas! The enlightened king follows the way of Heaven, establishes states, sets up capitals, appoints sovereigns and lords, and further employs high ministers and chiefs to assist them. He does this not for ease and pleasure, but for the governance of the people.

Heaven is intelligent and perceptive, and the sage imitates it. When ministers are reverent and obedient, the people follow and are well governed.

Words and tongues give rise to shame; armor and helmets give rise to war. Let robes and garments be stored in chests, while shields and spears are used for self-examination. The king should be vigilant regarding these things, and truly practice them, so that he may be discerning, and then nothing will not be excellent.

Order and disorder lie with the multitude of officials. Offices cannot be given to those privately favored, but only to those of ability. Ranks cannot be conferred on those of evil virtue, but only on the worthy and good.

Consider what is good in your actions, and act in accordance with the proper time.

If one has good virtue but becomes self-satisfied, he will lose that virtue; if one boasts of his ability, he will lose his achievements.

In all matters, there must be preparation; with preparation, there will be no worry.

Do not open the way to favoritism, inviting contempt; do not be ashamed to acknowledge faults, thereby creating errors.

In the position one occupies, let government affairs be upright and correct.

To treat my sacrifices with neglect—this is called irreverence. If rites become too elaborate, they lead to confusion; to serve the spirits will then become difficult."

The king said: "Excellent! Fu Yue, your words I will practice. If you were not skilled in speaking, I would have no way to hear these principles in action."

Fu Yue bowed and touched his head to the ground, saying: "It is not that knowing the difficulty is hard; it is that practicing it is hard. If the king sincerely does not consider practicing it as difficult, then he will indeed accord with the completed virtue of the former kings. If I, Fu Yue, do not speak, I will be guilty."