cruelty

  • The Analects – Chapter 20.2

    Confucius tells Zizhang qualified governance requires embracing five balanced virtues and rejecting four harmful misdeeds. Rulers shall benefit people thriftily and rule with dignified gentleness, while avoiding cruelty, tyranny, harassment and stingy rewards.

  • The Analects – Chapter 13.11

    The Master said, “If a good person governs a state for a hundred years, he can overcome cruelty and abolish capital punishment. Truly, this saying is correct!”

  • The turtle’s final crossing

    A compassionate man once caught a turtle. He wanted to make it into soup, but unwilling to be accused of taking life.