"善者因之，其次利導之，其次教誨之，其次整齊之，最下者與之爭。"
史記，司馬遷
Just read a book on Chinese History with a perspective historical structure of the "nation". I have learnt a quote (above) from an ancient Chinese Scribe Shiji (史記, Records of the Grand Scribe) by Sima Qian (司馬遷) which concisely discusses the priority of how a government or kingdom of the nation should lead a nation. This is what the quote means:
善者因之 : The best way to lead is by motivation from within.
其次利導之: The next best is to lead by benefits and reward.
其次教誨之: Than is to lead by pitching.
其次整齊之: Than is to rule by policy and control.
最下者與之爭: The worst is to directly intrude the operation and compete with those to be led."
The quote was to describe the best ways for a kingdom to manage a nation with a surprising modern view. The first four points are obvious to most of us that we need to lead people by motivation from within first. I am not so certain about a nation or society without policy and control but the quote was not talking about a world with no policy and control in an absolute sense. The worst for a kingdom or government is to create state own enterprise to compete with the commercial sector in a country.
To my surprise this ancient Chinese quote is very liberal and modern.
