原文
《国语·周语上》
厉王虐，国人谤王。召公告曰：“民不堪命矣！”王怒，得卫巫，使监谤者。以告，则杀之。国人莫敢言，道路以目。
王喜，告召公曰：“吾能弭谤矣，乃不敢言！”召公曰：“是鄣之也。防民之口，甚于防川。川壅而溃，伤人必多，民亦如之。是故为川者决之使导，为民者宣之使言。故天子听政，使公卿至于列士献诗，瞽献曲，史献书，师箴，瞍赋，矇诵，百工谏，庶人传语，近臣尽规，亲戚补察，瞽、史教诲，耆、艾修之，而后王斟酌焉。是以事行而不悖。民之有口，犹土之有山川也，财用于是乎出；犹其原隰之有衍沃也，衣食于是乎生。口之宣言也，善败于是乎兴。行善而备败，其所以阜财用衣食者也。夫民虑之于心而宣之于口，成而行之，胡可壅也？若壅其口，其与能几何？”
王不听，于是国人莫敢出言。三年，乃流王于彘。
中文翻译
《国语·周语上》
周厉王暴虐无道，百姓纷纷指责他。召公劝谏道：“百姓已无法忍受您的暴政了！”厉王大怒，找来卫国的巫师，命其监视进谏的百姓。卫巫将指责者报告给厉王，厉王便下令处死。百姓人人自危，路上相遇只能以眼神交流。
厉王得意地对召公说：“我已堵住百姓的嘴，他们再也不敢议论了！”召公回应：“您这是在堵塞民意啊！堵住百姓的嘴，比堵塞河流更危险。河流壅塞后一旦决堤，伤人无数；百姓也是如此。治理河道要疏通引导，治理百姓要让他们畅所欲言。因此，天子处理政事时，公卿、士人应献诗讽喻，盲人乐师应吟咏劝诫，史官应记录得失，少师应进箴言，盲人吟诵，平民传递意见，近臣直言规劝，亲属匡正过失，乐官、史官以音乐和历史教导，元老重臣修缮政令，最后由君王斟酌施行。如此行事才不会违背常理。百姓有口，如同大地有山川，财富资源由此而生；如同平原沃土滋养五谷，衣食用度由此而来。百姓的言论，是善恶兴衰的征兆。采纳善言、防范恶行，才能丰裕民生。百姓内心思考，口中表达，这是自然规律，岂能强行堵塞？若堵住他们的嘴，又有几人能真正服从？”
厉王拒不纳谏，于是百姓再无人敢说话。三年后，国人暴动，将厉王流放至彘地。
英文翻译
"Duke Zhao’s Admonition to King Li to Cease Suppressing Criticism" (From Discourses of Zhou, Guoyu)
King Li of Zhou ruled tyrannically, provoking widespread public condemnation. Duke Zhao warned him: “The people can no longer endure your oppression!” Enraged, the king enlisted a witch from Wei to spy on critics. Anyone reported was executed. Fear silenced the people; even on the roads, they dared only exchange glances.
Pleased, King Li boasted to Duke Zhao: “I have silenced the people—they dare not speak!” Duke Zhao rebuked: “You are damming the flow of dissent. Blocking the people’s voices is more dangerous than blocking a river. A blocked river bursts, drowning many; so too with the people. Rivers must be dredged to flow freely; likewise, rulers must let their subjects speak. Thus, when a sovereign governs, ministers and scholars present odes, blind musicians chant warnings, historians record lessons, officials recite admonitions, craftsmen voice critiques, and commoners pass judgments. Close aides advise, relatives correct, musicians and scribes enlighten, elders refine policies—only then does the ruler decide. This ensures harmony. The people’s speech is like mountains and rivers: from them arise resources and sustenance. Words reveal success or failure; embracing good and guarding against evil enriches the realm. How can you block what flows naturally from the heart? To silence them is futile!”
Ignoring this, King Li suppressed dissent until, three years later, the people revolted and exiled him to Yi.
背景补充
《召公谏厉王止谤》是《国语》开篇名篇，揭示了西周晚期统治危机与言论管控的悖论：
- 暴政与民怨：周厉王以高压手段（卫巫监谤）镇压批评，导致“道路以目”的恐怖氛围，反映统治者滥用权力的恶果。
- 谏言的核心：召公提出“防民之口，甚于防川”，强调言论自由是政治稳定的基石，主张通过多元渠道（诗歌、音乐、平民谏言等）疏导民意，而非暴力压制。
- 历史教训：厉王拒谏引发“国人暴动”，被流放彘地，成为后世“防民之口”的经典反面教材，印证了召公“宣之使言”的治国智慧。
此篇体现了先秦“民本思想”的萌芽，与《孟子》“民为贵”一脉相承，批判专制统治，主张统治者需倾听民意以保社稷。
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