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Mohism -> Mozi -> Book 3 -> Identification with the Superior III -> 1

墨子Mozi said:
The interest of the wise (ruler)
lies in carrying out what makes for order among the people
and avoiding what makes for confusion.
But what is it that makes for order among the people?
When the administration of the ruler answers to the desires of the people there will be order, otherwise there will be confusion.
How do we know it is so?
1When the administration of the ruler answers to the desires of the subjects, it manifests an understanding of the approvals and disapprovals of the people.
2When there is such an understanding, the good will be discovered and rewarded and the bad will be discovered and punished,
and the country will surely have order.
When the administration of the ruler does not answer to the desires of the subjects, it shows a lack of understanding of the approvals and disapprovals of the subjects.
When there is no such understanding then the good wiII not be discovered and rewarded and the bad will not be discovered and punished.
With the good unrewarded and the evil unpunished, such a government will surely put the country into disorder.
Therefore when rewards and punishments do not answer to the desires of the people,
。」 the matter has to be carefully looked into.

1. 於民之 : Originally read: "民於".
2. 若苟 : Originally read: "苟若". Corrected by 孫詒讓《墨子閒詁》


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