【原文】圣人者，明于治乱之道，习于人事之终始者也。其治人民也，期于利民而止。故其位齐也，不慕古，不留今，与时变，与俗化。《正世》

【汉解】所谓圣人，就是懂得治乱规律，深悉人事终始的人。他治理人民，只求有利于人民就完了。所以他确立这个“适中”政策的时候，不迷信古代，也不拘泥于今天，而是随着时势和国人风气的发展而变化的。

【英译】The sages brilliantly understood the reasons for having order or disorder and studied the beginnings and endings of affairs. In establishing order among people, they hoped to benefit them  and that is all. Therefore, when establishing their evenhandedness, they did not long for the past or remain stuck in the present. They changed with the times and developed along with customs.