Book 16: 《季氏》 Ji Shi (The Ji Clan)
《季氏》 Passage 16.2
孔子曰：「天下有道，則禮樂征伐自天子出；天下無道，則禮樂征伐自諸侯出。自諸侯出，蓋十世希不失矣；自大夫出，五世希不失矣；陪臣執國命，三世希不失矣。天下有道，則政不在大夫。天下有道，則庶人不議。」
Legge Translation (1861)
Confucius said: "When good government prevails in the empire, ceremonies, music, and punitive military expeditions proceed from the son of Heaven.When bad government prevails in the empire, ceremonies, music, and punitive military expeditions proceed from the princes. When these things proceed from the princes, as a rule, the cases will be few in which they do not lose their power in ten generations.
When they proceed from the Great officers of the princes, as a rule, the cases will be few in which they do not lose their power in five generations.
When the subsidiary ministers of the great officers hold in their grasp the orders of the state, as a rule, the cases will be few in which they do not lose their power in three generations.
When right principles prevail in the kingdom, government will not be in the hands of the Great officers.
When right principles prevail in the kingdom, there will be no discussions among the common people."
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