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Legalism -> Shang Jun Shu -> Elimination of Strength -> 8

If the whole population
is registered at birth
and erased at death,
there would be no people who would escape agriculture,
and in the fields there would be no fallow land.
Thus the country would be rich,
and being rich it would be strong.
If penalties are removed by means of penalties,
the country will enjoy order,
but if penalties are set up by means of penalties,
the country will be in disorder.
Therefore is it said:
'In applying penalties, punish heavily the light offences.'
If punishments are abolished, affairs will succeed and
the country will be strong.
But if heavy offences are punished heavily and light offences lightly,
penalties will appear, trouble will arise
and such a state will be dismembered.
Punishment produces force,
force produces strength,
strength produces awe,
awe produces kindness.
Kindness has its origin in force.


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