史记•管晏列传（节选)
The Lifes of Kwan and Yen
[汉]司马迁
By Sze Ma Chien
管仲夷吾者,颍上人也。少时常与鲍叔牙游，鲍叔知其贤。管仲贫困，常欺鲍 叔，鲍叔终善遇之，不以为言。已而鲍叔事齐公子小白，管仲事公子纠。及小白立 为桓公，公子纠死，管仲囚焉。鲍叔遂进管仲。
Kwan Chung (Yi-Wu) was a native of Ying Shang.Many of his young days were spent in Pao Shu-ya's company who was aware of his worthaess. Kwan Chung was a poor man; he often cheated Pao Shu, but Pao Shu treated him with kindness to the end, making no complaint.
管仲既用，任政于齐，齐桓公以霸，九合诸候，一匡天下，管仲之谋也。
Pao Shu served Prince Hsiao-peh of Ch'i, and Kwan Chung served Prince Chiu. After Hsiao-peh was installed Duke Hwan and Prince Chiu was killed, Kwan Chung was made prisoner; and then Pao Shu recommended him to the Duke.Kwan Chung, being employed, took over the direction of Cli'i^s government; and the result was the Duke was made the leader of the princes.It was solely through the wise counsel of Kwan Chung that the Duke called the princes nine times to conferences, and succeeded in unifying the empire.
管仲句：“吾始困时，尝与鲍叔贾，分财利多自与，鲍叔不以我为贪，知我贫也。吾尝为鲍叔谋事而更穷困，鲍叔不以我为愚，知时有利不利也。吾尝三仕三见逐于君，鲍叔不以我为不肖，知我不遭时也。吾尝三战三走，鲍叔不以我为怯，知我有老母也入公子纠败，召忽死之，吾幽囚受辱、鲍叔不以我为无耻，知我不羞小节而耻功名不显于天下也。生我者父母，知我者鲍子也。
Kwan Chung said,"In my straitened days, when I was in business with Pao Shu, if there was any profit to be shared, I often gave myself more than what was due; and Pao Shu never thought me greedy, because he knew I was poor. Once I counseled Pao Shu on a certain matter, and made things worse; yet Pao Shu did not think me silly, because he knew time may be favourable or not favourabk,I was three times in office and three times thrown out of it by my sovereign; yet Pao Shu did not think me unworthy, because he knew the time was not favourable to me. I went three times into battle, and three times I ran away; yet Pao Shu did not think me a coward, because he knew my mother was still alive.After Prince Chiu was defeated, Shao Hu committed suicide, and I endured the disgrace of being confined a prisoner; yet Pao Shu did not think me shameless, because he knew that I was not ashamed about niceties, but would be ashamed that my fame of achievement did not spread throughout the world. Ir was my parents that gave tne life; it wus Pao Shu that understands me."
鲍叔既进管忡，以身下之。子孙世禄于齐，有封邑者十馀世，常为名大夫。天下不多管仲之贤而多鲍叔能知人也。
Pao Shu, having advanced Kwan Chung, placed himseif below him. Hiu sons and grandsons received hereditary emolument from Ch'i, having towns for their fiefs more than ten generatious; and some of them became famous senior officers.The world did not praise Kwan Chung so much for his worthness as they did Pao Shu for his knowledge of men.
管仲既任政相齐，以区区之齐在海滨，通货积财，富国强兵，与俗同好恶。故其称曰：“仓廪实而知礼节，衣食足而知荣辱，上服度则六亲固。四维不张，国乃灭亡。下令如流水之源，令顺民心。”故论卑而易行。俗之所欲，因而予之；俗之所 否，因而去之。
With a tiny state like Ch'i lying on the seashore, Kwan Chung, having assumed the direction of the govemrnent as prime minister, made the country rich and strong by promoting exchange of goods, accumulating wealth, ynd sharing the like and dislike of the people.Thus he says,"With granaries filled up, the people will become modest; and being sufficient in clothes and food, the people will understand honour and dishonour When the sovereign's personal expenditure is confined within propriety, relations of the six degrees will live in peace. When the four cardinal principles tare relaxed, the country will go to destruction. In issuing decrees it should be made like the flowing water from the fountain,suiting the heart of the people. Therefore the reason should be plain and the practice must be easy. Give to the people whatever they desire, and get rid of whatever they hate."
其为政也，善因祸而为福，转败而为功„贵轻重，慎权衡。桓公实怒少姬，南袭蔡，管仲因而便伐楚，责包茅不入贡于周室。桓公实北征山戎，而管仲因而令燕 修召公之政。于柯之会，桓公欲背曹沬之约，管仲因而信之，诸侯由是归齐，故曰：“知与之为取，政之宝也。
In the matter of government Kwan Chung was skillful in turning eviil to good and bringing success out of failure. He emphasised the importance of money and was careful about the operation of balance.Duke Hwan's actual purpose was to attack Tsai out of wrath against his young concubine, but Kwan Chung convened it into an atrack upon Ch'u, and charged Ch'u with failing to pay the tribute of pa mao to the imperial house. The Duke's actual purpose was to attack Shan Jung, but Kwan Chung made Yen restored to Duke Shao's good government. At the conference of Ko the Duke would break covenant with Tsao Mei, but Kwan Chang made (he Duke keep good faith, and on account of this the princes all followed Ch'i's leadership.Therefore, he said: "Know that to give is to take; and this is the golden rule of government."
管仲富拟于公室，有三归、反坫，齐人不以为侈J7管仲卒.务国遵其政，常强于诸侯。
Kwan Chung's private wealth was comparable with the ducal house. He assumed the privileges of using San kwei and Fan tien, but the people did not think him presuptuous.After his death Ch'i remained a big power among the princes for a long time.