History
親賢臣 遠小人
“Keeping worthy ministers close and petty men far — this is why the Former Han flourished. Keeping petty men close and the worthy far — this is why the Later Han declined.”
— Zhuge Liang諸葛亮
ko어진 신하를 가까이하고 소인을 멀리한 것이 전한이 흥한 까닭이요, 소인을 가까이하고 어진 신하를 멀리한 것이 후한이 기울어진 까닭입니다.
ja賢臣を親しみ小人を遠ざけたことが前漢の興った理由であり、小人を親しみ賢臣を遠ざけたことが後漢の傾いた理由であります。
The scene behind the words
The first principle of rule Zhuge Liang left his young emperor in the memorial: dynasties rise and fall on personnel. The line became the standard text of royal education across East Asia — a departing chancellor’s last concern being, simply, who stands beside the throne.
Source: The Chu Shi Biao (in the official histories)