文质彬彬·每日好词语｜公生明，廉生威

　　公生明，廉生威

　　处事公正才能明察是非，为人廉洁才能树立威望。这是明清两代一些正直、清廉的官吏用以自戒的座右铭。时至今日，这句话仍是执政者应当遵循的最重要的为官准则：执政当公平公正，在党纪国法的框架内进行；官员当以身作则，廉洁自律，克己奉公，绝不能以权谋私。

　　Fairness Fosters Discernment and Integrity Creates Authority

　　Only by being fair can one distinguish between right and wrong; only with moral conduct can one establish authority. These mottoes were used as reminders by upright officials of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Today, these teachings have remained important principles which office holders should abide by. They mean that governance should be exercised in a fair and just way and within the framework of laws and regulatory procedures of the state. Officials should lead by example, have moral integrity and be self-disciplined; they should put public interests above their own and not use their power to pursue personal gain.

　　引例 吏不畏吾严而畏吾廉，民不服吾能而服吾公。公则民不敢慢，廉则吏不敢欺。公生明，廉生威。（年富《官箴》刻石）（官吏不害怕我的严厉但敬畏我廉洁，百姓不认可我的才能但信服我的公正。我公正，百姓就不会瞧不起我；我廉洁，官吏就不敢欺瞒于我。处事公正才能明察是非，做人廉洁才能树立威望。）

　　Officials have a sense of awe towards me not because of my being strict with them, but because of my upright conduct. People accept my authority not because of my ability, but because of my fairness. If I am fair, people will not dare to disobey my order; if I am morally upright, officials will not dare to deceive me. Only by being fair can one distinguish between right and wrong; only with moral integrity can one establish authority. (Nian Fu: Mottoes for Officials, from a stone carving)