On Governing

 'Chi K'ang Tzu' questioned Confucius on a point of government, saying: "Ought not I to cut off the lawless in order to establish law and order? What do you think?"

Confucius replied:" Sir, what need is there of the death penalty in your system of government? If you showed a sincere desire to be good, your people would likewise be good. The virtue of the prince is like unto wind; that of the people, like unto grass. For it is the nature of grass to bend when the wind blows upon it."

[Source: Analects, Confucius 551 B.C, The Wisdom Of the Chinese, p.21]