In the Analects, Confucius says: “One who governs by virtue is like the pole star. It stays in its place, and all the stars turn toward it.” (为政以德，譬如北辰，居其所而众星共之) When Ji Kangzi asked him about government, he answered: “If you lead by being upright, who would dare not to be upright?”
Ji Kangzi also asked whether he should kill those without principles to help those with them. Confucius replied: “In governing, why would you kill? If you want the good, the people will be good. The virtue of the gentleman is like the wind, and the virtue of the small man like grass. When the wind blows over the grass, the grass bends.”