荀子势论爬梳

The ideas of power and Tao in Xunzi

荀子所谓势即权力、地位。荀子认为只有得势,君子的政治理想才能有效付诸实践,造福于民。势固然重要,然君子求势必以其道,宁不得势而不可失道,更不可趋炎附势。得势之人君,必须以道处势,否则民心不服,势则必去。荀子还主张势不可齐,势位、财富的等级看似不公,实则至公。荀子论势比法家片面强调君主至高无上的权势,而蔑视仁义道德深刻得多。

Power is very important.Only with power,political ideals of wise statesmen can be effectively put into practice.The pursuit of wise statemen of power with justice and would rather lose power and not lose justice.They don＇t flatter bigwigs.Sovereign must exercise correctly the power.Otherwise,they will lose the power.The power may not be averagely but equally distributed.The different ranks of positions,wealth,and occupations can promot progress of society and the different ranks just mean equality in fact.