陈牧：今访隐士而不至，何也？岂吾德之薄而不足慕乎？政之乱而不可辅乎？群小在朝而不敢进乎？何贤者之不我从也？寡人甚惑焉，先生何以教我？

萧凡：臣以为，古之君子，邦有道则仕，邦无道则隐。隐非君子之所欲也。人莫己知而道不得行，群邪共处而害将及身，故深藏以避之。王者举逸民，扬仄陋，固为其有益于国家，非以徇世俗之耳目也。是故有道德足以尊主，智能足以庇民，被褐怀玉，深藏不市，则王者当尽礼以致之，屈体以下之，虚心以访之，克己以从之，然后能利泽施于四表，功烈格于上下。盖取其道不取其人，务其实不务其名也，大王当务厚道德，勤修政治，进善黜恶，秉至诚之心，安有勤求而不至者哉！

陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人谨受教。

chenmu：iwantedtorecruithermitsbuttheydidn‘tcome，isitnotenoughtoimpressthemwithmyvirtues？isitbecauseofthepoliticalchaosthattheydon‘twanttohelpme？isitbecausetherearetoomanytraitorsthattheydarenotcome？i‘mconfusedaboutthat，sirtaughtmewhy？

xiaofan：ithink，theformergentlemenwouldhaveappearedifthecountry‘spoliticswereclear，ifthecountryisinchaosthentheywillhide，theydon‘twanttodothateither，butnooneunderstandsthemandtaketheiropinionsintoaccount，andtheirlivesareoftenthreatened，sotheychosetoescape，thekingaskedthehermittocomeoutandguidehimselfforthebenefitofthecountry，andnottosatisfythegazeofordinarypeople，theirvirtuesmadethekingnoble，theirtalentscanbenefitthepeople，buttheygenerallydon‘tcomeout，therefore，thekinginvitedhimoutwiththehighestcourtesy，andaccepttheirteachingswithalowprofile，thenthekingdidthingsaccordingtothehermit‘sadvice，itisonlybecauseofthisthatkingcanbenefittheworldandbuildgreatfeats，thekingdidthistobenefitthenation，therefore，youwanttoimproveyourvirtues，anddiligentlyhandlegovernmentaffairs，rewardthegoodandpunishthewicked，andinvitethemwithsincerity，inthisway，itisimpossibleforthemnottoappear。

chenmu：sirisright，irespectfullyacceptyourteachings。

陈牧：寡人闻，以约失之者鲜矣，何也？先生教我。

萧凡：臣以为，尧、舜之居，土阶三等，夏日衣葛，冬日鹿裘；禹卑宫室，而菲饮食。此数帝者，非其情之不好，乃节俭之至也。故其所取民赋也薄，而使民力也寡；其育物也广，而兴利也厚。故家给人足，国积饶而群生遂，仁义兴而四海安，盖如是也。

陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人受教矣。

chenmu：i‘veheardthatveryfewpeoplefailbecausetheyarefrugal，sirtaughtmewhy？

xiaofan：ithink，theholykinglived，dressed，andate，allverysimple，it‘snotthattheydon‘tlikeluxury，it‘sthatthey‘refrugal，thetaxestheysetarelow，theydidn‘toveruselabor，therefore，theynurtureawiderangeofthingsandbenefitthem，therefore，thepeoplearestable，thecountryisrich，andtheworldisharmonious，thisisthereasonwhytheypracticebenevolenceandfrugality。

chenmu：sirisright，iacceptyourteachings。

陈牧：寡人愿闻，何谓七教？先生教我。

萧凡：臣以为，上敬老，则下益孝；上尊齿，则下益悌；上乐施，则下益宽；上亲贤，则下择友；上好德，则下无隐；上恶贪，则下耻争；上廉让，则下知节。此之谓七教也。七教者，治民之本也。政教定，则本正矣。凡上者，民之表也，表正则何物不正！

陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人受教矣。

chenmu：iwouldliketoknowthesevencanonsgoverningthecountry，sirtaughtme。

xiaofan：ithink，thekinghonorstheoldman，thenthepeoplefollowthefilialpietytotheoldman，thekingrespectstheelders，thenthepeoplewillrespecttheelders，ifthekinggivesfavor，thenthepeoplewillbecometolerant，whenthekingisclosetothewise，thenpeoplewillmakefriendscarefully，kingsreverevirtuethenpeopledonotdobadthings，ifthekinghatescorruption，thenthepeoplewillbeashamedofcorruption，thekingexaltshumility，andthenpeoplewillfollowit，thesearethesevencanonsforgoverningthecountry，iftheseorderscanbeimplemented，thensocietywillbecomestableandharmonious，kingsaretherolemodelsforpeople，aslongasthekingdoesagoodjob，theneverythingwillbegood。

chenmu：sirisright，irespectfullyacceptyourteachings。