Shiji: 100 Classic Sentences in Chinese

Author: Gongsun Ce
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: The Birth of Famous Quotes
Zhao Gong said: "Preventing the mouths of the people is more serious than preventing water. Water that is dammed up will burst its banks, causing great harm, and the people are the same. Therefore, those who manage water must dredge it to guide it, and those who manage the people must allow them to speak."
From the "Records of the Zhou"
Fully Understanding the Famous Quotes
1. Prevent: Here, it means governing rather than guarding against.
2. Block: To obstruct and not allow passage.
3. Burst: Refers to the great flood breaking through the banks and flowing everywhere.
4. Dredge: To waterways.
5. Guide: To.
6. Release: To, express.
Zhao Gong said: "Blocking the words of the people is more serious than blocking water. If the channels are blocked and the flood breaks its banks, it will surely bring disaster to the people. The people's opinions are the same. Therefore, those who manage water must dredge the waterways to guide the flow, and those who manage the people must allow the channels for their words to be expressed and opinions to be voiced."
The Story Behind the Famous Quotes
King Li of Zhou was cruel and extravagant, and the people had many complaints. The king was displeased and sent a wizard from the state of Wei to monitor and slander those who criticized him. Anyone who was reported was killed. As a result, fewer people dared to criticize, but the people from all directions were dissatisfied, and the feudal lords no longer came to court. However, the king tightened control over speech even more, causing the people to dare not talk to each other and to only signal with their eyes when walking on the streets. The king was proud of this and said to the chief minister Zhao Gong, "I have eliminated the noise, and now no one dares to criticize my governance anymore."
Zhao Gong said, "That is just blocking the mouths of those who criticize! Preventing the words of the people is more serious than preventing water. If water is dammed up and bursts, it will surely cause great casualties, and the people's opinions are the same. Therefore, managing water requires dredging it to allow it to flow smoothly, and managing the people requires giving space for their words to be released and opinions to be expressed."