1
管仲夷吾者，潁上人也。 少時常與鮑叔牙游，鮑叔知其賢。 管仲貧困，常欺鮑叔，鮑叔終善遇之，不以為言。 已而鮑叔事齊公子小白，管仲事公子糾。 及小白立為桓公，公子糾死，管仲囚焉。 鮑叔遂進管仲。 管仲既用，任政於齊，齊桓公以霸，九合諸侯，一匡天下，管仲之謀也。
Guan Zhong, whose courtesy name was Yiwu, was a man of Yingshang. In his youth, he often spent time with Bao Shuya, who recognized his worth. Guan Zhong was impoverished and often deceived Bao Shu, but Bao Shu in the end treated him well and did not take it amiss. Later, Bao Shu served Prince Xiaobai of Qi, while Guan Zhong served Prince Jiu. When Prince Xiaobai was installed as Duke Huan, Prince Jiu died and Guan Zhong was imprisoned. Bao Shu then recommended Guan Zhong to him. Once Guan Zhong was employed, he took charge of government in Qi. Duke Huan of Qi achieved hegemony, nine times assembled the feudal lords, and once brought the realm into order—all through Guan Zhong's strategy.
2
管仲曰：「吾始困時，嘗與鮑叔賈，分財利多自與，鮑叔不以我為貪，知我貧也。 吾嘗為鮑叔謀事而更窮困，鮑叔不以我為愚，知時有利不利也。 吾嘗三仕三見逐於君，鮑叔不以我為不肖，知我不遭時也。 吾嘗三戰三走，鮑叔不以我怯，知我有老母也。 公子糾敗，召忽死之，吾幽囚受辱，鮑叔不以我為無恥，知我不羞小睗而恥功名不顯于天下也。 生我者父母，知我者鮑子也。」
Guan Zhong said, "When I first was in straits, I once traded with Bao Shu; in dividing the profits I took much for myself. Bao Shu did not consider me greedy—he knew I was poor. I once planned affairs for Bao Shu and became even more impoverished, but Bao Shu did not consider me foolish—he knew there are times of advantage and disadvantage. I once served three times and was dismissed three times by lords, but Bao Shu did not consider me unworthy—he knew I did not meet the times. I once fought three times and fled three times, but Bao Shu did not consider me cowardly—he knew I had an aged mother. When Prince Jiu was defeated, Zhao Hu died for him. I was imprisoned and humiliated, but Bao Shu did not consider me shameless—he knew I was not ashamed of petty disgrace but ashamed that my merit and fame would not shine forth under Heaven. Those who gave me life are my parents; the one who truly knows me is Bao Shu."
3
鮑叔既進管仲，以身下之。 子孫世祿於齊，有封邑者十餘世，常為名大夫。 天下不多管仲之賢而多鮑叔能知人也。
Bao Shu, having recommended Guan Zhong, humbled himself below him. His descendants received hereditary stipends in Qi. Those with fiefs numbered over ten generations and always were famous grand officers. The world does not praise Guan Zhong's worthiness so much as it praises Bao Shu's ability to recognize people.
4
管仲既任政相齊，以區區之齊在海濱，通貨積財，富國彊兵，與俗同好惡。 故其稱曰：「倉廩實而知禮節，衣食足而知榮辱，上服度則六親固。 四維不張，國乃滅亡。 下令如流水之原，令順民心。」 故論卑而易行。 俗之所欲，因而予之； 俗之所否，因而去之。
Guan Zhong having taken charge of government as prime minister of Qi, with tiny Qi by the seacoast, circulated wealth and accumulated riches, enriched the state and strengthened the army, and shared likes and dislikes with the customs. Therefore, he said, "When granaries are full, the people know ritual and propriety; when clothing and food are sufficient, they know honor and shame; when superiors observe measure, the six kin are secure. When the four cardinal bonds are left slack, the state perishes. Issue orders like the source of flowing water, so that the orders follow the people's hearts." Therefore, his policies were modest and easy to put into practice. What the customs desire, therefore grant it; What the customs reject, therefore remove it.
5
其為政也，善因禍而為福，轉敗而為功。 貴輕重，慎權衡。 桓公實怒少姬，南襲蔡，管仲因而伐楚，責包茅不入貢於周室。 桓公實北征山戎，而管仲因而令燕修召公之政。 於柯之會，桓公欲背曹沫之約，管仲因而信之，諸侯由是歸齊。 故曰：「知與之為取，政之寶也。」
In his governance, he was good at turning calamity into fortune and converting defeat into success. He valued balancing light and heavy and was careful with weights and measures. Duke Huan was actually angry at the young consort and marched south against Cai; Guan Zhong then attacked Chu and charged that they had not sent the bundled-thatch tribute to the Zhou court. Duke Huan's northern expedition was in fact against the Mountain Rong, but Guan Zhong used it to have Yan restore Duke Shao's government. At the Kui meeting, Duke Huan wished to renege on Cao Mo's agreement, but Guan Zhong therefore kept faith with it, and the feudal lords therefore turned to Qi. Therefore, it is said, "To know that by giving one takes—that is the treasure of governance."
6
管仲富擬於公室，有三歸、反坫，齊人不以為侈。 管仲卒，齊國遵其政，常彊於諸侯。 後百餘年而有晏子焉。
Guan Zhong's wealth equaled the ducal house. He had three wives' quarters and return stands, yet the people of Qi did not consider it extravagant. Guan Zhong died, and the state of Qi followed his governance, constantly remaining strong among the feudal lords. More than a century later, Yan Zi appeared.
7
晏平仲嬰者，萊之夷維人也。 事齊靈公、莊公、景公，以節儉力行重於齊。 既相齊，食不重肉，妾不衣帛。 其在朝，君語及之，即危言； 語不及之，即危行。 國有道，即順命； 無道，即衡命。 以此三世顯名於諸侯。
Yan Ying, whose style was Ping Zhong, was a man of Yiwei in Lai. He served Dukes Ling, Zhuang, and Jing of Qi, and with frugality and diligent conduct was honored in Qi. Having become prime minister of Qi, he did not eat meat twice a day, and his concubines did not wear silk. At court, if the ruler's words touched on the matter, Yan Zi spoke forthrightly; If the ruler's words did not touch on it, he would act forthrightly. If the state possessed the Way, he obeyed commands; If the state lacked the Way, he would weigh his compliance with commands. With this he made a famous name among the feudal lords for three generations.
8
越石父賢，在縲紲中。 晏子出，遭之涂，解左驂贖之，載歸。 弗謝，入閨。 久之，越石父請絕。 晏子懼然，攝衣冠謝曰：「嬰雖不仁，免子於緦何子求絕之速也？」 石父曰：「不然。 吾聞君子詘於不知己而信於知己者。 方吾在縲紲中，彼不知我也。 夫子既已感寤而贖我，是知己； 知己而無禮，固不如在縲紲之中。」 晏子於是延入為上客。
Yue Shifu was a worthy man but was in fetters. Yan Zi went out and encountered him on the road. He unyoked the left trace horse to redeem him and carried him home. He did not thank him and entered the inner chambers. After some time, Yue Shifu asked to sever their relationship. Yan Zi, startled, straightened his robes and cap and apologized, saying, "Though I, Ying, am not benevolent, I freed you from bonds—why do you seek to break off relations so quickly?" Shifu said, "Not so. I have heard that a gentleman bends before those who do not know him, but stands firm before those who do. When I was bound in fetters, those men did not know me. Master having already been moved and redeemed me—this is knowing me; To know me yet treat me without ritual is surely not as good as being in fetters." Yan Zi then invited him in as an honored guest.
9
晏子為齊相，出，其御之妻從門閒而闚其夫。 其夫為相御，擁大蓋，策駟馬，意氣揚揚甚自得也。 既而歸，其妻請去。 夫問其故。 妻曰：「晏子長不滿六尺，身相齊國，名顯諸侯。 今者妾觀其出，志念深矣，常有以自下者。 今子長八尺，乃為人仆御，然子之意自以為足，妾是以求去也。」 其後夫自抑損。 晏子怪而問之，御以實對。 晏子薦以為大夫。
When Yan Zi was prime minister of Qi and going out, his charioteer's wife peeked at her husband from the gate. Her husband drove the prime minister's chariot, held the large canopy, whipped the four horses, and rode with spirit and energy soaring—he was very self-satisfied. After he returned home, his wife asked to leave him. The husband asked the reason. His wife said, "Yan Zi is less than six feet tall, yet personally serves as prime minister of Qi, and his name is illustrious among the feudal lords. Now when I observed his going out, his thoughts and reflections were deep—he constantly had ways to humble himself. You are eight feet tall, yet you serve as another man's charioteer, and you consider yourself fully satisfied—that is why I ask to leave you." Afterward, the husband humbled himself. Yan Zi was surprised and asked him, and the charioteer told the truth. Yan Zi recommended him as a grand officer.
10
太史公曰：吾讀管氏牧民、山高、乘馬、輕重、九府，及晏子春秋，詳哉其言之也。 既見其著書，欲觀其行事，故次其傳。 至其書，世多有之，是以不論，論其軼事。
The Grand Historian says: I read the Guan clan's Shepherding the People, Mountain Height, Cavalry, Light and Heavy, Nine Treasuries, and Yan Zi's Spring and Autumn—detailed indeed are their words. Having seen their written books, I wished to observe their conduct, therefore I arranged their biographies. As for their books, the world has many of them, therefore I do not discuss them—I discuss their scattered affairs.
11
管仲世所謂賢臣，然孔子小之。 豈以為周道衰微，桓公既賢，而不勉之至王，乃稱霸哉？ 語曰「將順其美，匡救其惡，故上下能相親也」。 豈管仲之謂乎？
The world calls Guan Zhong a worthy minister, yet Confucius treated him as small. Was this because, with the Zhou way in decline and Duke Huan already worthy, Guan Zhong did not urge him toward true kingship, but only helped him become hegemon? As the saying goes, "Promote and follow their excellence, correct and rescue their faults—thus superiors and inferiors can be close." Is this not speaking of Guan Zhong?
12
方晏子伏莊公尸哭之，成禮然後去，豈所謂「見義不為無勇」者邪？ 至其諫說，犯君之顏，此所謂「進思盡忠，退思補過」者哉！ 假令晏子而在，余雖為之執鞭，所忻慕焉。
When Yan Zi prostrated himself over Duke Zhuang's corpse, wept for him, completed the rites, and only then departed, was this not what is meant by "seeing what is right and failing to act shows lack of courage"? As for his remonstrations, speaking to the point of offending the ruler's countenance—is this not what is called "in advancing, think how to exhaust loyalty; in withdrawing, think how to remedy faults"? If Yan Zi were alive today, I would gladly hold the whip for him—that is how much I admire him.