78 Duke Zhao’s Advice to King Li

A4.31

King Li was cruel and tyrannical, extravagant and arrogant, and the people criticized him. Duke Zhao advised him, saying, "The people can't stand it anymore." King Li was agitated and found wizards from the State of Wei to monitor those who criticized him and had them executed. As a result, there were fewer criticisms, and the princes stopped coming to the king’s court. In the thirty-fourth year of his reign, King Li's control became even tougher over the people. People dared not speak casually and only made eye contact with each other on the street. King Li was very happy. He told Duke Zhao, "I’m made the criticisms disappeared now. They dare not speak." Duke Zhao said, "This only blocks their mouths. Blocking people's mouths is more dangerous than blocking a flood. A flood blocked will hurt many people when breaking through, and the same holds true for blocking people's mouths. Therefore, those who control floods should clear the blockages and drain the water. Those who govern the people should open up channels for them to express their opinions. Therefore, when the emperor handles government affairs, he should let the ministers and even the nobles offer poems, let the blind musicians offer music, let the historians offer books, let the grand tutor give admonitions, let the blind musicians without pupils sing the poems, let the blind musicians with pupils recite admonitions, let all the craftsmen come to give advice, let the common people discuss among themselves, let the close ministers give advice with all their heart, let the relatives make up for the mistakes, let the blind musicians and historians teach together, let the sages give instructions, and finally, let the king think thoroughly and carefully, so that the governance can be implemented without violating any reasoning. The people have mouths, just like the land has mountains and rivers, and wealth is generated from them; just like the plains have fertile soil, and food and clothing are generated from them. Let the people speak out, and the success or failure of governing the country can be foreseen. Doing good things and preventing bad things from happening, the principles of which are the same as that of generating wealth and food and clothing. What the people think in their hearts is what they say with their mouths, so that things can be done well. If you block the mouths of the people, how long could you last? " King Li did not listen to the remonstrance. So the people dared not speak, and three years later, the people rebelled together and attacked King Li. King Li fled to Zhi.

王行暴虐侈傲，国人谤王。召公谏曰：“民不堪命矣。”王怒，得卫巫，使监谤者，以告则杀之。其谤鲜矣，诸侯不朝。三十四年，王益严，国人莫敢言，道路以目。厉王喜，告召公曰：“吾能弭谤矣，乃不敢言。”召公曰：“是障之也。防民之口，甚于防水。水壅而溃，伤人必多，民亦如之。是故为水者决之使导，为民者宣之使言。故天子听政，使公卿至于列士献诗，瞽献曲，史献书，师箴，瞍赋，矇诵，百工谏，庶人传语，近臣尽规，亲戚补察，瞽史教诲，耆艾脩之，而后王斟酌焉，是以事行而不悖。民之有口也，犹土之有山川也，财用于是乎出；犹其有原隰衍沃也，衣食于是乎生。口之宣言也，善败于是乎兴。行善而备败，所以产财用衣食者也。夫民虑之于心而宣之于口，成而行之。若壅其口，其与能几何？”王不听。于是国莫敢出言，三年，乃相与畔，袭厉王。厉王出奔于彘。