第七十四章

民不畏死，奈何以死惧之！若使民常畏死，而为奇者，吾得执而杀之，孰敢？常有司杀者杀，夫代司杀者杀，是谓代大匠斫。夫代大匠斫者，希有不伤其手矣。

When people do not fear death, how can you threaten them with death? If people constantly feared death and those who acted against the law could be seized and put to death, who would dare? There is always an executioner whose task it is to kill. To kill in place of the executioner is like chopping wood in place of the master carpenter. Those who chop wood in place of the master carpenter rarely escape hurting their own hands.

白话译文

当百姓不怕死的时候，用死来威吓他们又有什么用呢！如果使百姓经常害怕死亡，那么对于那些作恶的人，我可以抓来杀掉，谁还敢作恶？总有专管杀人的去执行死刑。代替专管杀人的去杀人，就如同代替高明的木匠去砍木头。代替高明木匠砍木头的人，很少有不伤到自己手的。

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