What is meant by “governing the state must begin with regulating one’s family” is this:There has never been anyone who could not teach his own family yet was able to instruct others.
The Book of Odes says:“The royal domain extends a thousand li – this is where the people find their abode.”
The Book of Odes (Book of Poetry) says:“Look at the bend of the Qi River – lush green bamboo grows thick and fair.There is a refined gentleman,like bone being cut and filed, like jade being carved and polished.Solemn and resolute, illustrious and majestic!Such a refined gentleman – truly unforgettable!”
Zichan (Zi Chan), while governing the state of Zheng, once used his own carriage to ferry people across the Zhen and Wei rivers.
Mencius said: “The essence of ren (benevolence) is serving one’s parents;the essence of yi (righteousness) is following one’s elder brothers.The essence of zhi (wisdom) is understanding these two and never abandoning them;the essence of li (ritual propriety) is giving them proper form and refinement;the essence of yue (music/joy) is delighting in these two –and…
Mencius said: “Jie of Xia and Zhou of Shang lost the empire because they lost the people;and they lost the people because they lost their hearts.”
Mencius said: “When the world is governed by the Dao, those of lesser virtue serve those of greater virtue, and the less worthy among the virtuous serve the more worthy.But when the world is without the Dao, the small are enslaved by the great, and the weak are dominated by the strong.”