24. Lives of the all living beings under heaven are worth cherishing.

王者不令人放生，而無故卻不殺生，則物命可惜也；聖人不責人無過，唯多方誘之改過，庶人心可回也。

【今文解譯】

君王雖然從來不下命令讓人去放生，卻也不會無緣無故地濫殺無辜。這是因為天下的生靈都是值得珍愛的。

聖人不要求人沒有過錯，但會通過各種方式去引導他們改正過錯。這是因為大部分犯錯的人都願回心轉意的。

【English Translation】

Princes would not execute living beings for no reason though they have never issued orders to release captives. This is because that all the lives of the living beings under heaven are worth cherishing.

Sages would never demand people free of errors but would rather persuade them to correct their errors if any. This is because that most of those who have made errors are willing to correct them.

處事論是非 立言貴精詳