整理/沈杰群 制圖/李晗

　　法是愛民的手段，即法律、制度為的是惠及百姓。其深意為：是否變革法令、制度，確立什么樣的法令、制度，必須以“愛民”為依據和目的。

Law Is a Means of Loving the People

　　Law being a means of loving the people suggests that laws and institutions are for the benefit of the people. It is an important guiding principle of the Legalist school. The profound significance of this is: Changing laws and institutions or establishing new ones must have "loving the people" as its basis and aim.

引例

　　法者所以愛民也，禮者所以便事也。是以圣人茍可以強國，不法其故；茍可以利民，不循其禮。（《商君書·更法》）（法度是為了惠及百姓，禮制是為了方便做事。所以圣明的人治理國家，只要能使國家富強，不必沿襲舊的法度；只要能夠有利于百姓，不必遵循舊的禮制。）

　　The law is a means of caring the people and the rites are for the convenience of doing things. Therefore, if the sage is to be able to govern the state, he does not have to follow the model of the old laws and system. As long as it is possible to benefit the people thereby, he does not have to follow the old system of rites. (The Book of Lord Shang)