kēzhèng měng yú hǔ 苛政猛于虎
Tyranny Is Fiercer Than a Tiger.
苛刻残暴的政令比老虎还要凶猛可怕。语出《礼记·檀弓下》。孔子路过泰山脚下，有位妇女在墓前痛哭，孔子派子路上前询问，得知当地虎患严重，她的三位亲人皆被老虎咬死，她却因这里没有苛政而不愿离开，故而孔子发出“苛政猛于虎也”的感叹。它从反面批评了苛政对百姓的祸害，告诫统治者应当轻徭薄赋、爱惜民众，体现了儒家的仁政思想。
Harsh and cruel laws are more horrifying even than a tiger. The expression comes from The Book of Rites. The story goes that when Confucius was passing the foot of Mount Tai, he saw a woman weeping on a grave. He sent Zilu over to inquire. The woman said there were many tigers in the area and that she had lost three of her family to them, but because the local laws were not harsh, she did not wish to move away. Confucius sighed and said, “Tyranny is fiercer even than a tiger.” This is a criticism of harsh government, and an exhortation to rulers to reduce taxes and cut conscript labor, and to treat their subjects with compassion. It is an expression of Confucian principles of benevolent rule.
引例 Citation：
◎夫子曰：“小识子之，苛政猛于虎也。”（《礼记·檀弓下》）
（孔子说：“年轻人要记住这件事，苛刻残暴的政令比老虎还要凶猛可怕呀！”）
Confucius says, “Remember this, young man, harsh and tyrannical laws are worse even than a fierce tiger.” (The Book of Rites)
