King Hui of Yi once asked Bo Pi, "What remarks have the people made about me?"

"I've heard people saying that you're merciful and generous," Bo Pi replied.

"Where will this lead me? How far will my achievements go?" asked the King, rejoicing over the people's praise.

"Your achievements will only result in the state's destruction!" Bo Pi replied bluntly.

The King, however, was too thrilled to be offended by Bo Pi's comment.

"Aren't mercy and generosity vitues to be practised?" asked the King, looking puzzled. "Why would these lead to destruction?"

"Mercy means sympathy, and generosity means giving freely," Bo Pi explained. "Being merciful, you'll pardon those who do wrong, and being gernerous you'll reward even those who do not deserve it.

"When the offenders of the law get off scot-free and the undeserved get rewards, it goes without saying that the state is heading toward destruction."

魏惠王问卜皮说：“人民对我有甚么批评？”

卜皮坦率地回答说：“我听人民说您很慈惠。”

惠王听了人民的颂扬，大喜道：“那么我的功绩将会怎样？”

卜皮断然回答说：“您的功绩将会以国家的灭亡告终。”

惠王并没有因卜皮的话而大动肝火，反之，继续问道：“慈与惠，不是美德吗？为甚么却会导致国家的灭亡？”

卜皮解释说：“慈是怜悯，惠是施予。慈的话，您就连犯恶皂人都不处罚。惠的话，即使无功的人，您也会奖。如果犯罪的人不被处罚，无功的人又获奖赏，不用说，国家会走向灭亡之路了。”

赏罚分明 (shǎng fá fēn míng)
【翻译】reward who deserves, punish who deserves.
【释义】该赏的赏，该罚的罚。形容处理事情严格而公正。
【例句】有的家长对小孩的教育总是赏罚分明，让他们从小就严格要求自己。
【近义词】赏罚严明
【反义词】赏罚不当、赏罚不明