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Legalism -> Shang Jun Shu -> Discussion about the People -> 1

Sophistry and cleverness are an aid to lawlessness;
rites and music are symptoms of dissipations and licence;
kindness and benevolence are the foster-mother of transgressions;
employment and promotion are opportunities for the rapacity of the wicked.
If lawlessness is aided, it becomes current;
if there are symptoms of dissipation and licence, they will become the practice;
if there is a foster-mother for transgressions, they will arise;
if there are opportunities for the rapacity of the wicked, they will never cease.
If these eight things come together,
the people will be stronger than the government;
but if these eight things are non-existent in a state,
the government will be stronger than the people.
If the people are stronger than the government,
the state is weak;
if the government is stronger than the people,
the army is strong.
For if these eight things exist,
使 the ruler has no one to use for defence and war,
with the result that the state will be dismembered and will come to ruin;
but if there are not these eight things,
使 the ruler has the wherewithal for defence and war,
with the result that the state will flourish and attain supremacy.


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