Chapter 74

民不畏死，奈何以死懼之？
若使民常畏死，而為奇者，吾得執而殺之，孰敢？
常有司殺者殺。
夫代司殺者殺，是謂代大匠斲，夫代大匠斲者，希有不傷其手矣。

If the people do not fear death, why threaten them with death?
If the people were made always to fear death, and I could seize and kill those who do strange things, who would dare?
There is always the executioner to kill.
To kill in place of the executioner is to carve in place of the master carpenter. Of those who carve in place of the master carpenter, few do not cut their hands.