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Chapter 74
第七十四章
The people do not fear death; to what purpose is it to (try to) frighten them with death?
若民恒且不畏死，奈何以杀惧之也？
If the people were always in awe of death, and I could always seize those who do wrong, and put them to death, who would dare to do wrong?
若使民恒且畏死，而为奇者，吾得而杀之，夫孰敢矣？
There is always One who presides over the infliction death.
若民恒且必畏死，则恒有司杀者。
He who would inflict death in the room of him who so presides over it may be described as hewing wood instead of a great carpenter.
夫代司杀者杀，是代大匠斫也，
Seldom is it that he who undertakes the hewing, instead of the great carpenter, does not cut his own hands!
夫代大匠斫者，则希不伤其手矣。
