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Legalism -> Shang Jun Shu -> Weakening the People -> 6

Farming, trade and office are the three permanent functions in a state.
Farmers open up the soil, merchants import products, officials rule the people.
These three functions give rise to parasites, six in number,
which are called: care for old age, living on others, beauty, love, ambition and virtuous conduct.
If these six parasites find an attachment, there will be dismemberment.
If farmers live in affluence,
they seek leisure in their old age;
if merchants have illicit profits,
there will be beauty and love, and these will harm the means for enforcing the law;
if officials are set up, but are not utilized,
ambition and virtuous conduct will be the end.
If the six parasites become a pervading custom, the army will certainly suffer great defeats.


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