《墨子·08章 尚贤(上)》
然而国家不得富足而得贫穷，人民不得增加而得减少，刑法和政治不得安定而得混乱，那么是从根本上失去他们想要的东西，得到他们所憎恶的东西，这是什么原因呢？
然而不得富而得贫，不得众而得寡，不得治而得乱，则是本失其所欲，得其所恶。是其故何也？ 
Yet the state does not become wealthy but becomes poor, the people do not become numerous but become few, the penal laws and government do not become secure but become confused, so that they lose fundamentally what they desire and get what they hate. Why is this?