文／唐．李世民（599~649）

夫以銅為鏡，可以正衣冠；

以古為鏡，可以知興替；

以人為鏡，可以明得失。

朕常保此三鏡，以防己過。

──選自《貞觀政要》

Employing Able Men

Li Shimin (599 - 649)

English translation： Hsin-Yu Huang

With a bronze mirror,

one can tuck up his attire;

With the past as a mirror,

one can know the rise and fall of dynasties;

With other people as mirrors,

one can understand loss and gain.

I, the emperor, constantly keep

these three mirrors to avoid faults.

── from Zhenguan Zhengyao

（Essentials of Government in the Zhenguang Period）