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Confucianism -> Liji -> Li Yun -> 15

Hence the ruler is he to whose brightness men look;
he does not seek to brighten men.
The ruler is he whom men support;
he does not seek to support men.
The ruler is he whom men serve;
he does not seek to serve men.
If the ruler were to seek to brighten men, he would fall into errors.
If he were to seek to nourish men, he would be unequal to the task.
If he were to seek to serve men, he would be giving up his position.
Therefore the people imitate the ruler, and we have their self-government;
they nourish their ruler, and they find their security in doing so;
they serve the ruler, and find their distinction in doing so.
Thus it is by the universal application of the rules of propriety, that the lot and duty (of different classes) are fixed;
thus it is that men (acting contrary to those rules,) would all have to account death a boon, and life an evil.


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