“Throw away sacredness and wisdom and people will be one hundred times happier.”
Quote collection
People Quotes — page 979 of 5018
“People are hard to govern. The rulers interfere with too much. That is why people are hard to govern.”
“He does not seek glory - yet people respect him.”
“I will be fond of keeping still, and the people will of themselves become correct.”
“When his (the good ruler's) task is accomplished and his work done, The people all say, "It happened to us naturally.”
“Heaven's Way gives no favors. It always remains with good people.”
“The Way is the source of all things, good people's treasure and bad people's refuge.”
“People starve. The rulers consume too much with their taxes. That is why people starve.”
“When leading people and serving Heaven, nothing exceeds moderation.”
“He does not seek power - yet people follow him.”
“When the sage stands above people, they are not oppressed. When he leads people, they are not obstructed. The world will exalt him and not grow tired of him.”
“When people are unsettled, loyal ministers arise.”
“Of the best rulers, The people only know that they exist; the next best they love and praise the next they fear; and the next they revile. When they do not command the people's faith, some will lose faith in them, and then they resort to oaths! But of the best when their task is accomplished, their work done, the people all remark, We have done it ourselves.”
“When many people are killed, they should be mourned and lamented. Those who are victorious in war should follow the rites of funerals.”
“A great country needs more people to serve it. A small country needs more people to serve. So, if both shall get what they need, the great country ought to yield.”
“Of the second-rate leaders people speak respectfully saying, "He has done this, he has done that." Of the first-rate leaders, they do not say this. They say, "We have done it all ourselves."”
“The people suffer from famine because of the multitude of taxes consumed by their superiors. It is through this that they suffer famine.”
“The leader is best, When people are hardly aware of his existence, Not so good when people praise his government, Less good when people stand in fear, Worst, when people are contemptuous. Fail to honor people, and they will fail to honor you. But of a good leader, who speaks little, When his work is done, his aim fulfilled, The people say, 'We did it ourselves.'”
“Weapons are not proper instruments for gentle people; they use them only when they have no other choice. Peace and quiet are what they value. They do not glory in victory.”
“Those who are quiet value the words. When their task is completed, people will say: We did it ourselves.”