74

"The people do not fear death, Why threaten them with death? Suppose the people always fear death, One who does strange things (ch'i), I shall seize and kill, Then who dares [to do strange things]? Killing is carried out by the executioner. To replace the executioner and kill, Is like chopping wood in place of the master carpenter. To chop wood in place of the master carpenter, Rarely one does not hurt one's own hand."