本文论述了谏官的职责与重要性。

作者认为向皇帝进谏是很重要的事情，所以要设立谏官。

因为谏官的责任重大，为此官者必须谨慎和忠诚，还要将谏官的名字刻在石上让当时和后来的人监督。

谏院题名记　 司马光古者谏无官，自公卿大夫，至于工商，无不得谏者。

汉兴以来，始置官。

夫以天下之政，四海之众，得失利病，萃于一官；使言之，其为任亦重矣。

居是官者，当志其大，舍其细；先其急，后其缓；专利国家而不为身谋。

彼汲汲于名者，犹汲汲于利也，其间相去何远哉？

天禧初，真宗诏置谏官六员，责其职事。

庆历中，钱君始书其名于版，光恐久而漫灭。

嘉佑八年，刻于石。

后之人将历指其名而议之曰：“某也忠，某也诈，某也直，某也曲。

”呜呼！

可不惧哉！

CensorsSzu-Ma KuangIn ancient times there was no such office as that of Censor.

From the highest chamberlain of Court down to the humblest workman of the people, all were free alike to offer their advice to the Throne.

With the Han dynasty, the functions of Censor became vested in a single individual officer, whose duty it was to advise on all matters involving the welfare of the empire generally, His was a sacred trust; and for this post it was necessary to choose men of resolution and of liberal minds, who could gauge the relative importance of events and entirely subordinate their own interests to those of the commonwealth.

Seekers after notoriety or wealth found no place in their ranks.

During the Sung dynasty the number of Censors was increased to six; and later on their names were duly engraved upon wooden boards.

But I, fearing lest these should be obliterated by time, caused them to be carved upon stone; so that future generations might point to the record and say, "such a one was loyal.

Such a one was a traitor.

Such a one was upright.

Such a one was corrupt.

" Verily this should give good cause for fear!

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