Those who deceive the people say, "The circumstances of
ancient and modern times are different; hence methods for governing
are different." Since the people are all stupid and without
knowledge, mean and lacking in discrimination, they can even
be deceived about that which they have seen [with their own eyes];
how much the more [may they be deceived about events] after a
thousand years! Those who deceive the people foster deceit inside
their very courtyards; how much the easier [to foster it] in regard
to [events of] a thousand years ago! In that case how does the
saint manage not to be deceived? The saint measures others by
himself. He measures [men's] hearts by his heart; he measures
their feelings by his feelings; he measures each kind of thing by
its own kind. [To him] ancient and modern are one. Categories
do not become confused; even though the time has been long,
the principle [governing them] is the same. Truly human nature
conforms to [the same] principle and does not go astray.
That before the Five Emperors there is no record of individuals
is not because there were no sages; it is because it was so long
ago. That during the [time of the] Five Emperors there is no
record of government is not because there was no good government;
it is because it was so long ago. That for the time of the
Yü[2]
and the Hsia the records of government are not so detailed
as those of the Yin and the Chou is not because the government
was not good; it is because it was so long ago. Now the greater
the antiquity from which a record is transmitted, the more
abridged it is, and the more recent the times, [relatively] the more
detailed it is. If abridged, great events are mentioned; if detailed,
small events are mentioned. As a result, stupid men hearing of the
great events are ignorant of the small ones, and hearing of the
small events are ignorant of the great ones. They are mistaken
because it has been so long ago. The Three Kings and the Five
Emperors represent the acme of government. The Ode says,
[3]
God's commands were never disobeyed;
Down to T`ang they were all alike [in this].[4]
It speaks of the identity of ancient and modern.
