Be good Quote by Confucius
“Wouldst thou know if a people be well governed, or if its laws be good or bad, examine the music it practices.”
About This Quote
Source Analects, Book 12, 5th century BC
A well‑governed people can be judged by the harmony of their laws and practices.
In simple terms: A society’s health is shown by its laws and actions.
Key Takeaway
Assess governance by outcomes.
Themes
governance
law
music
Mood
didactic
philosophical
Type
historical
ethical
When to use this quote
- policy analysis
- civic education
Key Concepts
harmonious order
ethical leadership
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “music” symbolize in governance?
- How can we measure a law’s goodness?
A Different Perspective
Music metaphor may be culturally specific.
![“[The labor movement is] a movement of the working people, for the working people, by the working people, governed by ourselves, with its policies determined by ourselves.” quote by Samuel Gompers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/124/samuel-gompers-16712_determined_the-labor-movement-is-a-movement-of-the_2786857.jpg)
