Chapter 20 of the Analects of Confucius

尧Yao曰yuē：“咨zi，尔er舜Shun，天tian之zhi历li数shu在zai尔er躬gong，允yun执zhi其qi中zhong。四si海hai困kun穷qiong，天tian禄lu永yong终zhong。”
舜Shun亦yi以yi命ming禹Yu，曰yuē：“予yu小xiao子zi履Lü，敢gan用yong玄xuan牡mu，敢gan昭zhao告gao于yu皇huang皇huang后hou帝di，有you罪zui不bu敢gan赦she，帝di臣chen不bu蔽bi，简jian在zai帝di心xin。朕zhen躬gong有you罪zui，无wu以yi万wan方fang；万wan方fang有you罪zui，罪zui在zai朕zhen躬gong。周Zhou有you大da赉lai，善shan人ren是shi富fu。虽sui有you周zhou亲qin，不bu如ru仁ren人ren。百bai姓xing有you过guo，在zai予yu一yi人ren。谨jin权quan量liang，审shen法fa度du，修xiu废fei官guan，四si方fang之zhi政zheng行xing焉yan。兴xing灭mie国guo，继ji绝jue世shi，举ju逸yi民min，天tian下xia之zhi民min归gui心xin焉yan。所suo重zhong民min，食shi丧sang祭ji。宽kuan则ze得de众zhong，信xin则ze民min任ren焉yan，敏min则ze有you功gong，公gong则ze说yue。”

XX.1. The Emperor Yao said:
— Well, Shun, here is the time set by Heaven for your ascension to the empire. Strive to maintain the just middle in all things. If through your negligence the people lacked resources, Heaven would take away from you forever the power and royal treasures.
Shun gave the same advice to Yu, his successor.
Cheng Tang, founder of the Shang dynasty, after driving out Jie, the last emperor of the Xia dynasty, said:
— I, Lü, who am like a weak child, have dared to sacrifice a black bull. I have dared to solemnly declare, before the august Sovereign and Lord of Heaven, that I would not spare the guilty and that I would not leave hidden in private life the servants of the Sovereign King, because the cruelties of the tyrant and the virtues of the sages are inscribed in the heart of the Supreme Master. If I commit a fault, the people will not be responsible. If the people commit a fault, I will be responsible.

Wu Wang, founder of the Zhou dynasty, spread his benefits throughout the empire. He enriched only the virtuous men.
— Although the tyrant Zhou has many close relatives, he said, they are not worth my men, who are very virtuous. If I do not overthrow him, all the complaints of the people will turn against me alone.
He regulated the weights and measures, revised the laws and ordinances, restored the offices that had been established by Zhou; and throughout the empire, administration resumed its regular course. He reconstituted the abolished principalities, gave adoptive heirs to the heads of great families who died without a male heir; promoted to office the capable men who had been left in private life; and all hearts were with him. He attached great importance to the people's livelihood, funerals, and sacrifices. If a prince does good to all his subjects, he will win all hearts; if he is diligent, he will bring all his works to a good end; if he is just, he will make the people happy.

XX.2. Zizhang asked Confucius what was needed to govern well. The Master replied:
— One must esteem five qualities and avoid four faults; that is enough.
— What are these five qualities? asked Zizhang.
The Master replied:
— A wise prince practices benevolence without spending anything; he imposes burdens on the people without making them discontented; he has desires without being greedy; he is happy and calm without pride or negligence; he has dignity without being harsh.
Zizhang said:
— How does he practice benevolence without spending anything?
The Master replied:
— He promotes everything that provides resources for the people; by this means, does he not practice benevolence without spending anything? He imposes neither labor nor other burdens except at appropriate times and for necessary things; then, who would be discontented? He desires that his administration be benevolent, and he achieves it; how could he be greedy? A wise prince, without considering whether people are few or many, or whether matters are important or not, never allows the slightest negligence. Is he not calm without pride or negligence? A wise prince ensures that his clothes and cap are well adjusted, and that his gaze is dignified. His gravity inspires respect. Is he not majestic without being harsh?
Zizhang then asked what the four faults to avoid were. The Master replied:
— Not instructing one’s subjects and then punishing them with death when they break the law is cruelty. Without prior warning, demanding that imposed labor be completed immediately is haste and violence. Giving unhurried orders and then rushing the execution is to murder the people. When it is absolutely necessary to give something early or late, counting with parsimony what is received and what is given is to act like a steward.

XX.3. The Master said:
— He who does not know the will of Heaven will never be a sage. He who does not know the rules and customs will not be steadfast in his conduct. He who cannot discern truth from falsehood in men’s words cannot know men.