Thesis:
Confucius’ passage argues that a government may be effective even without the issuing of orders if its leader shows a correct personal conduct. Otherwise, if the leader’s words do not coincide with his deeds, no orders will make people follow them.
Reasons:
A prince’s correct personal behavior contributes more to the efficacy of a government than far-fetched orders.
If a prince issues orders but does not embody those principles in his own life, the government will be ineffective since such orders will not be followed.
Analysis:
Confucius’ argument is concise, clear, and reasonable. It is common knowledge that any government is meant to regulate and control citizens’ life. A governmental influence is usually imposed upon people by the means of orders, which are issued predominantly for ordinary citizens and have nothing to do with lives of higher circles. It goes without saying that citizens are supposed to blindly obey a government and fulfil its orders since it is believed that a government knows what is better and more beneficial to people. As a matter of fact, it may turn out that a ruler does not follow the principles proclaimed by his government and leads a completely opposite way of life. In this case, people may begin questioning themselves: why should we follow the guidelines that our ruler neglects? Thus, there is no wonder that citizens do not follow the ruler’s orders if his personal conduct is wrong and undermines the essence of his orders. In contrast to this, a ruler’s correct personal conduct may serve as a substitute for orders, so that people, feeling that their ruler’s behavior is good and correct, will voluntarily try to follow his example and imitate his deeds. This principle operates not only in politics but in everyday life: a personal example is the best stimulator of a corresponding …