小編導讀：《答司馬諫議書》是北宋著名文學家王安石所作，篇中對司馬光加給作者的“侵官、生事、征利、拒諫、怨謗”五個罪名逐一作了反駁，并批評士大夫階層的因循守舊，表明堅持變法的決心。言辭犀利，針鋒相對，是古代的駁論名篇之一。

王安石 《答司馬諫議書》

某啟：昨日蒙教，竊以為與君實游處相好之日久，而議事每不合，所操之術多異故也。雖欲強聒，終必不蒙見察，故略上報，不復一一自辨。重念蒙君實視遇厚，于反復不宜鹵莽，故今具道所以，冀君實或見恕也。

蓋儒者所爭，尤在于名實，名實已明，而天下之理得矣。今君實所以見教者，以為侵官、生事、征利、拒諫，以致天下怨謗也。某則以為受命于人主，議法度而修之于朝廷，以授之于有司，不為侵官；舉先王之政，以興利除弊，不為生事；為天下理財，不為征利；辟邪說，難壬人，不為拒諫。至于怨誹之多，則固前知其如此也。人習于茍且非一日，士大夫多以不恤國事、同俗自媚于眾為善，上乃欲變此，而某不量敵之眾寡，欲出力助上以抗之，則眾何為而不洶洶然？盤庚之遷，胥怨者民也，非特朝廷士大夫而已。盤庚不為怨者故改其度，度義而后動，視而不見可悔故也。如君實責我以在位久，未能助上大有為，以膏澤斯民，則某知罪矣；如曰今日當一切不事事，守前所為而已，則非某之所敢知。

無由會晤，不任區區向往之至。

Reply to a Letter from Counsellor Sima Guang
Wang Anshi

Greetings from Wang Anshi:

Yesterday I had the honour to receive your instructions. We have long been acquainted and on a friendly footing, yet it seems to me that we usually disagree in our deliberations because the lines we take are fundamentally different. Much as I would have liked to argue my case at length, I knew you would never accept it; that is why I simply acknowledged your letter briefly instead of justifying myself point by point. In view, however, of the high regard you have shown me, I have since reflected that such a cursory reply was inappropriate. So I crave your indulgence now, sir, for explaining my views in more detail.

What scholars dispute most hotly is whether or not names accord with reality. Once the relationship between these is clear, we can grasp the principles governing all things in the universe.

However, sir, you now reproach me for causing a great uproar throughout the country by infringing on the prerogatives of officials, fomenting trouble, practicing extortion, and rejecting advice.

But I consider that when I receive orders from the Emperor to discuss certain laws and measures and have them amended at court, then passed on to the offices concerned, this cannot be called infringing on the prerogatives of officials. When I revive the policies of kings of old to benefit the country and do away with abuses, this cannot be called fomenting trouble. When I regulate the empire's finances, this cannot be called extortion. When I refuse vicious talk and rebut sophists, this cannot be called rejecting advice.

As for the widespread uproar, this is something which I had foreseen in advance. People have been used to blundering on for some time and most of the gentry think it best to ignore affairs of state, swim with the tide and curry favour with the multitude. Now the Emperor wishes to change this and, not caring how many my opponents are, I am eager to do my utmost to help him stem the tide; so naturally this has raised a storm of protests. When Pan Geng (1) moved his capital it caused a great clamour among the whole populace, not merely among court officials. But he did not because of this outcry change his plan, for he considered it correct and, having carried it out, saw no reason to regret it.

If you censure me because in my long term of office I have failed to do much to help the Emperor benefit the people, then I must plead guilty, sir. If you urge me to do nothing now but simply abide by the old ways, this is something I cannot venture to accept.

Having no chance to meet you, I can only send you my most respectful regards.

(1)A king of the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600-1066 BC) who moved his capital from present-day Qufu, where it was often flooded, to Anyang further south from the Yellow River

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