通过探讨圣人身上所体现出的德性,《管子》四篇揭示出了政治权威的评价尺度:无私地守护生命可以导致百姓的归服;认识并应用“一”或天地万物的统一性原理使其有能力整合人类社会秩序。与此同时,《管子》四篇还特意提醒人们,能否成为圣人在很大程度上取决于一个人的天性。这种主张不仅把圣人或政治权威限定于少数拥有卓越禀赋的人,而且表明《管子》四篇相信专制主义的存在有其合理性。 By discussing the virtues embodied in saints, “Guan Zi” reveals the evaluation scale of political authority: unselfishly guarding life can lead to the people’s return; understanding and application of “one” or the unity of all things in the world The principle makes it capable of integrating human social order. In the meantime, the four articles of Guan Zi specifically remind people that whether or not they become saints largely depends on one’s nature. This assertion not only limited saints or political authority to the few who possess extraordinary endowments, but also justified the existence of the four Believers absurdists.