To Rule a Country, One Needs to Get Rid of Societal Mice and Fierce Dogs
 
Yan Zi (578 – 500 BC), courtesy name Ying, was a resident in the State of Qi in the Spring and Autumn Period (722 – 481 BC). He served three of Qi’s kings: King Ling (581 – 554 BC), King Zhuang (553 – 548 BC), and King Jing (547 – 490 BC). Yan Zi was the Prime Minister and he paid attention to thriftiness and promoting a benevolent government. Whenever the king asked him a question pertaining to the government, he would answer it directly and never resorted to flattery.
 
One day, King Jing asked Yan Zi, "What is the thing to be most wary of when ruling a country??" Yan Zi thought for a while and then answered, "It is the mice that live in temples and fierce dogs."
 
The king asked, "Why do you say this?" Yan Zi said, "Temples to worship deities are constructed with wooden materials and then earth is spread on to make walls. Mice see many offerings there to eat, so they hide in the temples and enjoy ample food all their lives. Those people who respect the deities want to catch and kill the mice, but they are unable to hit them with sticks. If they want to use fire to burn the mice, they are afraid of damaging the temples. If they want to use water to drown the mice, then they are afraid of damaging the walls. These mice will have unlimited food and live a happy, carefree life. A country also has such mice and they are those villains that are employed by the king. These villains flatter the king, always reporting good news and never bad news. They oppress and exploit the common people and do all kinds of evil. The common folks are upset with these villains who are hurting people, but they dare not say so because these villains are protected by the king. Therefore, I believe that in order to rule a country well, we need to be determined to get rid of these mice."
 
"Then what is the analogy for fierce dogs?" the king asked.
 
Yan Zi continued, "There was a businessman who specialized in brewing and selling liquor. His liquor was well-brewed; his liquor containers were well-cleaned; the sign for his liquor shop was hung in a conspicuous spot, but no one came to buy liquor from him. He asked his fellow villagers for an explanation. The villagers said: 'It is because you raise a fierce dog at home. People are afraid of being hurt by the fierce dog, so they dare not come and buy liquor from you!' A country is similar to a liquor store. If you want to make your country developed and prosperous, you have to get rid of all those fierce dogs that obstruct or hurt people."
 
晏子论治国须除社鼠与猛犬
 
晏子（公元前578年--500年）名婴，字平仲，春秋时齐国人。曾辅佐齐灵公、庄公、景公三代。晏子为相，注重节俭，厉行仁政。在朝廷上，国君向他所有问询时，他就直言答对，绝不阿谀奉承，虚与委蛇。
 
有一天，齐景公问晏子：「治理国家，最害怕的是甚么？」晏子沉思了一会儿，回答说：「最害怕的是社鼠和猛犬。」
 
景公问：「为甚么这样说呢？」晏子讲道：「社庙是用木质材料架构起来，再涂上泥土塑造而成。老鼠见那里有许多供品可食，就藏身在社庙，一生享用不尽。敬神的人，想捕杀这里的老鼠，用棍子打不着它；用火熏烤它吧，又怕烧坏了社庙；用水去淹灌它吧，又怕冲坏了社庙中的泥土。这些社鼠，可真是食用不尽，乐死无忧。国家也有这种老鼠，他们就是那些受到国君所任用的小人。这些小人对国君刻意逢迎，报喜不报忧。而对待百姓，则是欺压盘剥，无恶不做。老百姓对这帮害民贼，敢怒而不敢言，因为他们得到了国君的庇护。所以，我认为：要想把国家治理好，就要下决心除掉这些社鼠！」
 
那么，猛犬是比喻甚么呢？
 
晏子接着讲：「有个卖酒的人，他家的酒，酿造的很好；他用来装酒的器皿，洗涤得也很清洁；酒店的招牌，挂得也很显眼。可就是没有人来光顾他的生意。他问老乡们是甚么原因？老乡们回答：是因为你家，养了一只凶恶的猛犬。人们怕被猛犬所伤，都不敢到你家去买酒了！一个国家，也像酒店一样，要想国家兴旺发达，必须除掉阻挡百姓，伤害人民的猛犬。」
 
（事据《晏子春秋》卷三）