From Wei Zhi's Ten Thoughts of Emperor Taizong, the original excerpt:
Every hundred heads of state, bearing the fate of heaven and scenery, are worried and talk about it, and they are successful and morally declining. Everything that has a good beginning is complicated, and everything that can be overcome is few. Is it difficult to take away the easy things and keep them? In the past, this was more than enough, but today it is not enough. Why? My husband treats him wholeheartedly when he is worried, and indulges in pride when he succeeds. The five mountains wholeheartedly are an organic whole, while the proud things are connected by flesh and blood.
Translation:
All emperors accepted the great mission entrusted by heaven, and all of them were concerned about the country and the people, and managed well, but after their success, the monarch's moral character began to decline.
The monarch did a lot of good things at first, but probably not many can persist. Is it difficult to achieve the world easily and keep it up? In the past, we had more power to seize the world, but now we have less power to defend the world. Why?
Usually in deep anxiety, I try my best to treat my subjects sincerely. If I succeed, I will indulge my temperament and look down on others. Make every effort to be sincere. Even if the North and the South can form a family and look down on others, the person you love will become a stranger.
Extended data
Creative background:
In his later years of Zhenguan, Emperor Taizong gradually became arrogant and forgot his roots, overhauled palaces and temples, extensively searched for treasures, and wasted people's money. Wei Zhi is very worried about this. He clearly saw that there was a crisis behind the prosperity. In the eleventh year of Zhenguan (637), it was sparse four times, and this article was sparse for two times, so it was also called "Two Sparse of Current Politics". As soon as Emperor Taizong saw it, he became alert and wrote "a letter to Wei Zhi", indicating that he had changed from remonstrance.
Theme appreciation:
This article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of different attitudes adopted in different periods, such as "worrying about yin" and "achieving success"
When the monarch is "worried", he will certainly be honest with others; And if the monarch can do his best to his subordinates, he can make the monarch and his subjects fit together and unite as one. When the monarch "succeeds", he often does whatever he wants and despises others; If the monarch looks down on others, even relatives will become strangers like fellow travelers.
In this way, judging from different situations such as "being in Yinlong" and "becoming famous", it boils down to this: the monarch who keeps his job is easy to lose the hearts of the people. Therefore, he warned Tang Taizong not to respect ministers and be enemies with others. Because resentment is not about size, making enemies with people is terrible, just like water can carry a boat and overturn it. Everyone can protect the monarch and overthrow him.
The article focuses on the discussion, which is intended to advise Taizong to be prepared for danger in times of peace, abstain from extravagance and thrift, and accumulate his morality. Emperor Taizong was warned not to look down on the prince with the respect of the emperor and not to be enemies with others. Because resentment is not about size, making enemies with people is terrible, just like water can carry a boat and overturn it. Everyone can protect the monarch and overthrow him.
Baidu Encyclopedia —— Ten Thoughts on Advising Taizong