Here, Confucius was talking about ‘the small man’ – who presumably enjoyed political power though he belonged to the class of the ruled – and not about the common people, but what is true of the small man will a fortiori be true of the common people. Moral example has an influence which, though imperceptible, is, in fact, irresistible. It is, therefore, of the greatest importance to put the upright in position of authority. In answer to the question put to him by Duke Ai, ‘What must I do before the common people will look up to me?’ Confucius said, ‘Raise the straight and set them over the
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