文质彬彬·每日好词语 | 法者天下之平

　　法律是天下最公平的东西，亦是天下共同的行为准则。中国的“法”字自产生之日起，即被赋予了“平之如水”的根本规定性。“平”即公正、公平，也有普遍准则之义。法律一旦确立，便对所有人都一样。在法律实施过程中，如果轻重失当或有所偏颇，法律就会失去其根本规定性，不再是真正意义上的法律了，而人们的行为没有了准绳，就会造成社会的整体失范。法律及司法的公平正义早已成为中国古人的共同崇尚。

　　The Law Is Just for All

　　The law is just for all and it must be the common standard for all behavior. Since the character "法" (law) came into existence, it has included the meaning "leveled as even as water," while ping means being just, fair, and it also refers to common guidelines for all. Once a law is established, it applies equally to all. Any deviant or improper implementation will undermine its basic function so that it loses its true meaning. Without standards to guide human behavior, society will fall into disarray. This concept of judicial fairness has been commonly upheld by the Chinese since ancient times.

　　引例1 廷尉，天下之平也，一倾而天下用法皆为轻重，民安所措其手足？（《史记·张释之冯唐列传》）（廷尉是掌管天下法律公平的人。一旦稍有偏差，天下的执法者都会跟着随意减轻或加重处罚，百姓不就无所适从了吗？）

　　The Minister of Justice is responsible for administering the law fairly. Any deviations will lead to arbitrary, random punishments, and the populace will not know how to behave. (Records of the Historian)

　　引例2 法者天下之平，与公共之。（《资治通鉴·唐纪十四·太宗贞观二十年》）（法律是天下共同的行为准则，应当与天下人共同遵守。）

　　Laws guide the actions of all, and should be obeyed by all. (History as a Mirror)