If you desire what is good, the people will be good. The character of a ruler is like wind and that of the people is like grass. In whatever direction the wind blows the grass always bends.

Confucius

Quoted in Analects

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More information about this quote

Topic

Political leadership The masses Grass

Speaker

Confucius

Source

Analects

Genre

Philosophical literature

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

Chinese

Time

221 BC 220s BC 3rd century BC

Occupation

Philosopher

From

China Asia

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Confucius. 論語 [The Analects]. c. 479 BCE.

Current Citation

Confucius. The Analects, edited and translated by Annping Chin. Penguin Classics, 2014.

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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote about The masses

The mad mob does not ask how it could be better, only that it be different. And when it then becomes worse, it must change again. Thus they get bees for flies, and at last hornets for bees.

Martin Luther

More information about this quote
Topic
The mob The masses

Author

Martin Luther
Language
German
Time
1526 1520s 16th century
Authentication Score 1
Original Citation

Luther, Martin. Ob Kriegesleute auch in seligem Stande sein können [Whether Soldiers Can Also Be in a State of Grace]. c. 1526.

Current Citation

Luther, Martin. "Whether Soldiers, Too, Can Be Saved." Works of Martin Luther, translated by C. M. Jacobs. Vol. 5, Baker Book House, 1982.

Another quote originally in Chinese

Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent's fate.

Sun Tzu

The Art of War

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More information about this quote
Topic
Military strategy

Author

Sun Tzu
Source
The Art of War
Medium
Treatise
Genre
Military treatise
Language
Chinese
Time
490 BC 490s BC 5th century BC
Authentication Score 1
Original Citation

Sun Tzu. 孫子兵法 [The Art of War]. c. 475 BC, ch. 6.

Current Citation

Sun Tzu. The Art of War: The Essential Translation of the Classic Book of Life, translated by John Minford. Penguin Classics, 2009, ch. 6.

Another quote of the following type Metaphor, analogy and simile

Lighter than a cork I danced on the waves.

Arthur Rimbaud

The Drunken Boat

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More information about this quote
Topic
Ocean and sea

Author

Arthur Rimbaud
Source
The Drunken Boat
Medium
Poem
Statement Type
Metaphor, analogy and simile
Language
French
Time
1871 1870s 19th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Rimbaud, Arthur. "Le Bateau Ivre [The Drunken Boat]." Les Poetes Maudits, edited by Paul Verlaine. Paris, 1884.

Current Citation

Rimbaud, Arthur. "Le bateau ivre/The Drunken Boat." Rimbaud: Complete Works, Selected Letters, a Bilingual Edition, translated by Wallace Fowlie. University of Chicago Press, 2005.