韩愈·《医说》英译

善医者，不视人之瘠肥，察其脉之病否而已矣；善计天下者，不视天下之安危，察其纪纲之理乱而已矣。天下者，人也；安危者，肥瘠也；纪纲者，脉也。脉不病，虽瘠不害；脉病而肥者，死矣。通于此说者，其知所以为天下乎！

夏、殷、周之衰也，诸侯作而战伐日行矣。传数十王而天下不倾者，纪纲存焉耳。秦之王天下也，无分势于诸侯，聚兵而焚之，传二世而天下倾者，纪纲亡焉耳。是故四支虽无故，不足恃也，脉而已矣；四海虽无事，不足矜也，纪纲而已矣。忧其所可恃，惧其所可矜，善医善计者，谓之天扶与之。《易》曰：“视履考祥。”善医善计者为之。

<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> 

On the Treatment of Illness

Han Yu

A good doctor does not treat a patient by looking at his weight, but by observing whether anything is wrong with his pulse. A good strategist does not administer a country by inspecting its safety, but by checking if political guidelines are properly followed. Administering a country is like treating a patient; a country’s safety is like a patient’s weight; political guidelines are like a human’s pulse. If a patient’s pulse is not diseased, then his thinness is not detrimental. However, if his pulse is diseased, although he is fat, he may die. Anyone who is conversant with his principle also knows the principle of administering a country!

Although the wars between the feudal lords erupting every day caused the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties to decline, each had an uninterrupted line of succession for as many as a dozen generations. This is because political guidelines were installed. On the contrary, although all feudal lords were wiped out, the throne of the Qin Dynasty lasted for only two generations before it collapsed. This is all because of its lack of political guidelines. Therefore, even if one’s entire body is fine, there is nothing to be content with, for it is the pulse that is the deciding factor. Even if the whole country is at peace, there is nothing to be complacent over, for it is the political guidelines that play a vital role. If one is worried about what he should be content with or fears what he can be complacent over, he is then a good doctor or a good strategist, and he will then have Heaven’s assistance. The Book of Changes says: “Life is but a journey; watch your footsteps!” That’s exactly the instruction a good doctor or a good strategist is supposed to follow.