It was first said by Xunzi, a Confucian scholar in the Warring States Period. See Xun Zi Ai Gong for the original text, which is a dialogue between Confucius and Lu Aigong.

See also Xun's Wang Zizhi: "Take charge of politics, and then the gentleman takes charge of politics. Chuan said:' the monarch, the boat is also; Shu Ren, water also; The knife cuts bread and fingers. "

Emperor Taizong said in the article "On Political Power": "Jun, boat also; People, water also; Water can carry a boat or overturn it. "