Caring about People
262. The sage-ruler in the past was capable of educating his people and no one was forsaken. He was also good at taking care of all things, and so nothing was wasted.
Scroll 34: Laozi
263. Tai Gong said: “The sage will distribute all food under heaven fairly for everyone’s consumption. The sage will govern all the people under heaven well, and he will also be the decision maker for the distribution of all things under heaven. He who brings benefits to the world will win the world; he who brings peace to the world will own the world; he who loves and protects all the people in the world will rule the world for a long time; and he who implements benevolent policies will educate and transform the world.”
Scroll 31: Liu Tao
264. Emperor Yao was most worried that his chosen successor Shun might not accept his offer to be the emperor; likewise, the latter Emperor Shun was most worried that sages like Yu and Gao Yao might not accept his offer to be the emperor. The act of distributing money and properties to others is considered as kindness; the act of educating people to become better persons is considered as faithfulness; the act of searching for competent people to serve in the government is considered as benevolence. Hence it was said: “Easy it is to forsake the throne to others but difficult it is to find sages who could serve the people selflessly.”
Scroll 37: Meng Zi
265. Treat the people as if they were your children. Punish wicked people like a hawk going after the birds.
Scroll 5: Chun Qiu Zuo Shi Zhuan, Vol. 2
266. While the ancient sage-rulers had sufficient food to eat they would remember people who were starving. While they had adequate clothing they would remember people who were freezing in the cold. While they lived in comfort they would remember many people who were toiling hard in the world.
Scroll 33: Yan Zi
267. The wise rulers of the ancient times were truly sympathetic toward the suffering of their people. If some people did not have enough to eat, the rulers would not eat a second dish; if some people did not have enough clothing to keep them warm, the rulers would not wear fur coats. Only when the annual harvest was abundant and everyone was prospering were bells and drums hung, and axes and shields displayed23. Celebrating together with the officials and the people, no one would feel sorrowful in their land.
Scroll 41: Huai Nan Zi
268. Mengzi said: “Deploying civilian forces for the sake of public interests will not cause discontentment among the people. Sentencing someone to death for the sake of public security will not evoke hatred from the offender.”
Scroll 37: Meng Zi
269. Honor the virtuous like you would honor the state guests. Love the people like you would love a child. If your conscience is clear about a decision, you will implement it throughout the nation. In this way, there will be no convicts in prison and there will be peace and order in the world.
Scroll 17: Han Shu, Vol. 5
270. A good ruler will nurture the people like his own children, protect them the way heaven would do and accommodate them the way earth would do. People will accept their ruler as if he were their parent, admire him as if he were the sun and the moon, revere him as if he were a divine being, and be fearful of him as if he were the thunderbolt.
Scroll 5: Chun Qiu Zuo Shi Zhuan, Vol. 2
271. If a ruler regards the happiness of the people as his own, the people will also regard his happiness as their own. If a ruler sees the concerns of the people as his own, the people will also regard his worries as their own. Both the happiness and hardship of the people are inseparable from his conscience. Thus, how would such rulers fail to run their administration successfully?
Scroll 42: Xin Xu