If you desire what is good, the people will be good. The character of a ruler is like wind and that of the people is like grass. In whatever direction the wind blows the grass always bends.

Confucius

Quoted in Analects

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More information about this quote

Topic

Political leadership The masses Grass

Speaker

Confucius

Source

Analects

Genre

Philosophical literature

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

Chinese

Time

221 BC 220s BC 3rd century BC

Occupation

Philosopher

From

China Asia

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Confucius. 論語 [The Analects]. c. 479 BCE.

Current Citation

Confucius. The Analects, edited and translated by Annping Chin. Penguin Classics, 2014.

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A quote by Confucius about political leadership: “If you desire what is good, the people will be good. The character of…”
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A quote by Confucius about political leadership: “If you desire what is good, the people will be good. The character of…”
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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote about The masses

Are you not entertained?

Gladiator

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More information about this quote
Topic
Entertainment The masses
Speaker
Maximus Decimus Meridius
Actor
Russell Crowe
Source
Gladiator
Medium
Film
Genre
Historical drama (film) Drama (film) Historical drama Drama
Statement Type
Question
Language
English
Time
2000 2000s 21st century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Gladiator. Directed by Ridley Scott. DreamWorks Pictures/ Scott Free Productions/Universal Pictures/Red Wagon Entertainment, 2000.

Another quote originally in Chinese

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching

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More information about this quote
Topic
Patience Persistence One step at a time

Author

Lao Tzu
Source
Tao Te Ching
Genre
Philosophical literature Religious literature
Statement Type
Metaphor, analogy and simile
Language
Chinese
Time
400 BC 400s BC 5th century BC
Authentication Score 0
Original Citation

Laozi [Lao Tzu]. 道德經 [Tao Te Ching]. c. 400 BC, ch. 64.

Current Citation

Laozi [Lao Tzu]. "The Natural Way of Lao Tzu." A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy, translated by Wing-Tsit Chan. Princeton University Press, 1969, ch. 64.

Another quote of the following type Metaphor, analogy and simile

If a person knows not to which port he sails, no wind is favorable.

Seneca the Younger

More information about this quote
Topic
Goals Aimlessness

Author

Seneca the Younger
Source
Letters of Seneca the Younger
Medium
Letter
Statement Type
Proverbs, aphorisms and adages Metaphor, analogy and simile
Language
Latin
Time
65 60s 1st century
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 0
Original Citation

Seneca the Younger. Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium [Moral Letters to Lucilius]. c. 65 AD.

Current Citation

Seneca, Lucius Annaeus. Letters on Ethics, translated by Margaret Graver and A. A. Long. University of Chicago Press, 2017.