Government by virtue and rule by law

Original text

Confucius said: "Tao 1) governs the government, and qi 2 uses punishment, so that the people can avoid 3 and be shameless; Tao To be virtuous, to be equal with etiquette, to be shameful and virtuous④"

Notes

①Tao: Tong "gui" means to teach, guide, and lead. ②Qi: rectification ③Free: avoid ④Form: to, come, extended to submit

Translation

Confucius said: "Use political decrees to teach, use criminal laws to rectify, the common people know Avoid committing crimes, but do not have a conscious sense of shame. If you use morality to guide you and use ethics to regulate, the people will have a conscious sense of shame and be convinced."

Interpretation

Confucius had a dialogue with Wei Wenzi, which developed the discussion here.

Confucius said: "Using ethics to rule the people is like using reins to control a horse. The driver only needs to hold the reins, and the horse will know how to walk and run according to the driver's wishes. Use criminal laws to rule Ordinary people are like using whips to drive horses without reins. It is easy to lose control and even throw the driver off."

Wei Wenzi asked: "In this case, why not hold it with your left hand. If you use the reins and the whip in your right hand, wouldn't the horse run faster? Otherwise, if you only use the reins, how can the horse be afraid of you? "

Confucius still insisted that as long as you are good at using the reins, you can control it. Once you have mastered the technology, there is no need to use a whip to drive them away. (See Volume 2 of "The Analects of Confucius")

The dialogue here actually talks about the difference between Confucian politics and Legalist politics; Confucian politics advocates the rule of virtue and restrains the people with morality and etiquette; Legalist politics advocates The rule of law drives the people away with political decrees and criminal laws. The rule of virtue focuses on the heart, the rule of law applies both, and Confucianism and law go hand in hand. If we proceed from reality and examine history and reality, it is obvious that Wei Wenzide’s proposition is more feasible.