道德經七十四章:死殺
民不畏死,奈何以死懼之。
若使民常畏死,而為奇者,吾得執而殺之,孰敢。
常有司殺者殺。
夫代司殺者殺,是謂代大匠斫。
夫代大匠斫者,希有不傷其手。
現代漢語:
人民本不懼怕死亡,用什麼方式以死亡來恐嚇人民。
如果要逼迫人民經常處於死亡的恐懼中,對稍有不軌的人,即羈押並將他殺死。誰敢這樣做?
天律有專管生殺大權的來執行生殺。
對代行專管生殺大權的來執行生殺,這正如代大工匠執斧頭砍大木。
代大工匠砍大木的,很少有不傷及自己的手的。
The people are not afraid of death.
What is the way to threaten the people with death.
If forcing people in threaten of death, for those
who has a small fault, seize and kill them. Who dare to do this?
There is an executioner who administrate the deaths.
To take the place of the executioner and administrate the deaths, is
like to take the place of a master carpenter to handle the hatchet to split bid
wood.
Who takes the place of the master carpenter to handle the hatches to
split big wood, has very less chance that he does not injure his own hands.