"If the people are governed by laws..." - Quote by Confucius
If the people are governed by laws and punishment is used to maintain order, they will try to avoid the punishment but have no sense of shame. If they are governed by virtue and rules of propriety are used to maintain order, they will have a sense of shame and will become good as well.
More by Confucius
“There are 3 elements essential in the matters of the State, Food, Military equipment, and Confidence of the people in the ruler. Of these 3, Military Equipment is the least important, Food being the 2nd important, and Confidence of the people being the MOST important. All men rather die of starvation than in war, but nevertheless all men do die of old age. Lacking in Confidence from the people, a state cannot survive.”
“What is most needed for learning is a humble mind.”
“In his dealings with the world, the gentleman is not invariably for or against anything. He is on the side of what is moral.”
More on Governance
“Should things go wrong at any time, the people will set them to rights by the peaceable exercise of their elective rights.”
“Justice is in subjects as well as in rulers.”
“In one sense it is evident that the art of kingship does include the art of lawmaking. But the political ideal is not full authority for laws but rather full authority for a man who understands the art of kingship and has kingly ability.”
More on Ethics
“Conscience, man's moral medicine chest.”
“The physician, to the extent he is a physician, considers only the good of the patient in what he prescribes, and his own not at all”
“I can do no other than be reverent before everything that is called life. I can do no other than to have compassion for all that is called life. That is the beginning and the foundation of all ethics.”