English Original
Duke Jing of Qi discussed state governance with his minister, Yan Zi. Yan Zi suggested they must first rid the temple of mice.
The Duke was puzzled.
Yan Zi explained, "The temple is built of wood, with walls plastered over the timber. Mice nesting within pose a serious problem. If you smoke them out, you risk burning the wood. If you flood them out, you risk damaging the walls. Caught in this dilemma, the mice remain. Similarly, the monarch's favored ministers and servants are like these temple mice. At court, they befuddle the ruler; outside, they bully and oppress the people. Failure to remove them unsettles the state. Yet removal is difficult, for they often enjoy the monarch's protection and pardon."
中文翻译
齐景公与大臣晏子探讨治国方略。晏子认为，首先必须清除土地庙里的老鼠。
景公对此感到不解。
晏子解释道：“庙宇由木材搭建，墙壁是在木柱上抹泥而成。老鼠在里面筑巢，会带来大麻烦。用烟熏，怕烧毁木头；用水灌，怕冲坏墙壁。陷入这种两难境地，老鼠便无法清除。同样，君主宠信的近臣侍从就像这些庙中之鼠。在朝堂上，他们蒙蔽君主；在民间，他们欺压百姓。不除掉他们，国家不得安宁；但除掉他们又很困难，因为他们常常能得到君主的庇护和宽恕。”