樂于生存，樂意活著。想活不想死，乃人之常情。它既是打天下者救民于水火，贏得民心，確立自身正當性的基點，也是執(zhí)政者必須嚴守的一條底線：不能讓老百姓走投無路，覺得生無可戀。為此，執(zhí)政者至少應注意兩點：要創(chuàng)造一切機會，讓百姓得以生存；百姓有難，國家要全力救助。否則，國家、社會的基本秩序不可能維持，更不可能達到有效治理。它是“愛人”“民本”思想的體現(xiàn)，與“好生”異曲同工。

Wanting to live and not to die is only natural. A cardinal principle for those who took power was to save the people from disasters and win their trust. It was also what made governance legitimate. One should not drive the people to desperation so that they lose their will to live. Therefore the ruler should bear two things in mind: create all possible opportunities for people to survive, and when they are in difficulties, the state should do everything to help them. Otherwise basic order in state and society cannot be maintained, to say anything of effective governance. This is the manifestation of the beliefs "caring for others" and "people first" as well as "cherishing life."

引例 Citation：

◎凡人惡死而樂生，好德而歸利。能生利者，道也。道之所在，天下歸之。（《六韜·文韜·文師》）

凡是人都厭惡死亡而樂于生存，喜好恩德而趨向利益。能為天下人謀求利益的，就代表了道義。誰代表了道義，天下人就會擁戴誰。

Everybody wants to stay alive and hates to die, and also loves to be a man of virtue and gains benefits. To win benefits for the people is a just cause to pursue. He who represents justice is loved and respected by the people. (The Six Strategies)

推薦：教育部 國家語委

供稿：北京外國語大學 外語教學與研究出版社

責任編輯：錢耐安