--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The administration of government lies in…" description: "\"The administration of government lies in getting proper men. Such men are to be got by means of the ruler's own character. That character is to be cult..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f65/confucius-164_administration_the-administration-of-government-lies-in_133484.jpg" --- # The administration of government lies in getting proper… ![“The administration of government lies in getting proper men. Such men are to be got by means of the ruler's own character. That character is to be cultivated by his treading in the ways of duty. And the treading those ways of duty is to be cultivated by the cherishing of benevolence.” quote by Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f65/confucius-164_administration_the-administration-of-government-lies-in_133484.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f65/confucius-164_administration_the-administration-of-government-lies-in_133484.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f65/confucius-164_administration_the-administration-of-government-lies-in_133484.jpg) > “The administration of government lies in getting proper men. Such men are to be got by means of the ruler's own character. That character is to be cultivated by his treading in the ways of duty. And the treading those ways of duty is to be cultivated by the cherishing of benevolence.” [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Good governance depends on selecting virtuous leaders, whose character is shaped by duty and benevolence. **In simple terms:** Leadership requires virtue and duty. Key Takeaway Cultivate duty and benevolence in leaders. Themes governance leadership virtue duty benevolence Mood reflective instructive Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - political theory - education - public administration Key Concepts character development ethical leadership Questions to Reflect On - What practices develop benevolent leadership? - How to assess a leader’s character? A Different Perspective Assumes virtuous leaders can be reliably identified. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Administration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administration/) [Benevolence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benevolence/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government lies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-lies/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Rulers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rulers/) ## Related quotes > [Men make the moral code and they expect women to accept it. They have decided that it is entirely right and proper for men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmeline-pankhurst/men-make-the-moral-code-and-they-expect-women-to-accept-it-they-have/) [Emmeline Pankhurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmeline-pankhurst/) > [ \[There can be no\] rational administration of government when good men are held in the same esteem as bad ones. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polybius/there-can-be-no-rational-administration-of-government-when-good-men/) [Polybius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polybius/) > [We're not like the American administration, we're not social media administration or government. We are a government that deals with reality. When we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/we-re-not-like-the-american-administration-we-re-not-social-media/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [The end of the institution, maintenance, and administration of government is to secure the existence of the body politic; to protect it, and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-end-of-the-institution-maintenance-and-administration-of/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [The administration of government, like a guardianship ought to be directed to the good of those who confer, not of those who receive the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-administration-of-government-like-a-guardianship-ought-to-be/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“Recall those scenes from 1984, in which the brainwashed masses respond to blatant government lies with mindless chants of support? Keep this image in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-befumo/recall-those-scenes-from-1984-in-which-the-brainwashed-masses-respond/) [Joseph Befumo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-befumo/) > [“Wherever the real power in a Government lies, there is the danger of oppression. In our Governments the real power lies in the majority…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/wherever-the-real-power-in-a-government-lies-there-is-the-danger-of/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [I believe that the essence of government lies with unceasing concern for the welfare and dignity and decency and innate integrity of life for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/i-believe-that-the-essence-of-government-lies-with-unceasing-concern/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [The responsibility for good government lies not just with governments themselves but also with every other part of the system they operate in, including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/the-responsibility-for-good-government-lies-not-just-with-governments/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [For reporting a scientific finding, I was called a 'conspiracy theorist.' Only in America is scientific analysis seen as conspiracy theory and government lies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/for-reporting-a-scientific-finding-i-was-called-a-conspiracy-theorist/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [If you want to know about governments, all you need to know is two words: Governments lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-f-stone/if-you-want-to-know-about-governments-all-you-need-to-know-is-two/) [I. F. Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-f-stone/) > [Governments lie; bankers lie; even auditors sometimes lie: gold tells the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-rees-mogg/governments-lie-bankers-lie-even-auditors-sometimes-lie-gold-tells/) [William Rees-Mogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-rees-mogg/) > [I was never interested in the two-party system per se. I was interested in how authority was abused by government, and how lies were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-feiffer/i-was-never-interested-in-the-two-party-system-per-se-i-was/) [Jules Feiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-feiffer/) > [“I thought we stopped using grunts as guinea pigs decades ago. Even the Nazis didn't run medical experiments on their own troops in combat.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-matsumoto/i-thought-we-stopped-using-grunts-as-guinea-pigs-decades-ago-even-the/) Gary Matsumoto > [I am sometimes a fox and sometimes a lion. The whole secret of government lies in knowing when to be the one or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/i-am-sometimes-a-fox-and-sometimes-a-lion-the-whole-secret-of/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) ## More by Confucius > [Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/attack-the-evil-that-is-within-yourself-rather-than-attacking-the/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The superior man is distressed by his want (lack) of ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-is-distressed-by-his-want-lack-of-ability/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. Wishing to order well their nations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/in-ancient-times-those-who-wished-to-illuminate-the-world-with-virtue/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Better than the one who knows what is right is the one who loves what is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/better-than-the-one-who-knows-what-is-right-is-the-one-who-loves-what/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Knowledge is merely brilliance in organization of ideas and not wisdom. The truly wise person goes beyond knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/knowledge-is-merely-brilliance-in-organization-of-ideas-and-not/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [I live in a very small house, but my windows look out on a very large world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/i-live-in-a-very-small-house-but-my-windows-look-out-on-a-very-large/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To rule a country of a thousand chariots, there must be reverent attention to business, and sincerity; economy in expenditure, and love for men;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-rule-a-country-of-a-thousand-chariots-there-must-be-reverent/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The real fault is to have faults and not amend them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-real-fault-is-to-have-faults-and-not-amend-them/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-know-what-you-know-and-what-you-do-not-know-that-is-true-knowledge/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [A picture is poem without words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/a-picture-is-poem-without-words/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Heaven means to be one with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/heaven-means-to-be-one-with-god/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Does Heaven ever speak? The four seasons come and go, and all creatures thrive and grow. Does Heaven ever speak!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/does-heaven-ever-speak-the-four-seasons-come-and-go-and-all-creatures/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To study and at times practice what one has learned, is this not a pleasure?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-study-and-at-times-practice-what-one-has-learned-is-this-not-a/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/recompense-injury-with-justice-and-recompense-kindness-with-kindness/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [There is only one thing in life which never changes, and it is change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/there-is-only-one-thing-in-life-which-never-changes-and-it-is-change/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) [Explore all 1,019 Confucius quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) ## More Administration quotes > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [While the people retain their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/while-the-people-retain-their-virtue-and-vigilance-no-administration/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If you want to serve in a Trump administration, you're going to serve this country, not yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-spicer/if-you-want-to-serve-in-a-trump-administration-you-re-going-to-serve/) [Sean Spicer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-spicer/) > [Listen, I have a great affection and respect for Joe Biden. I think he's been a great vice president. He's taken on a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/listen-i-have-a-great-affection-and-respect-for-joe-biden-i-think-he/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [I don't believe anyone that I know in the administration ever said that Iraq had nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/i-don-t-believe-anyone-that-i-know-in-the-administration-ever-said/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [What was unique about me being in City Hall during the Giuliani Administration, I was the only one who wasn't an attorney. I may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/what-was-unique-about-me-being-in-city-hall-during-the-giuliani/) [Joe Lhota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lhota/) > [The Trump administration launched the cruise missile strikes in Syria, an act of war, without a U.N. resolution or Congressional authorization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/the-trump-administration-launched-the-cruise-missile-strikes-in-syria/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [The only way I'll ever run a marathon is if I'm involved in the administration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-phillips/the-only-way-i-ll-ever-run-a-marathon-is-if-i-m-involved-in-the/) [Sally Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-phillips/) > [Obama spent the first two years of his administration practicing political unilateral disarmament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/obama-spent-the-first-two-years-of-his-administration-practicing/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) > [The actions of the University in my case make it abundantly clear that the Administration's rhetoric about Harvard's desire to attract and retain the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-geller/the-actions-of-the-university-in-my-case-make-it-abundantly-clear/) [Margaret Geller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-geller/) > [In mid-May, the House of Representatives approved the full amount of money that the Veterans Administration said was needed for next year - plus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doc-hastings/in-mid-may-the-house-of-representatives-approved-the-full-amount-of/) [Doc Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doc-hastings/) > [In 1953, the United States played a significant role in orchestrating the overthrow of Iran's popular prime minister, Mohammed Mossadegh. The Eisenhower administration believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/in-1953-the-united-states-played-a-significant-role-in-orchestrating/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [The administration of George W. Bush, emboldened by the Sept. 11 attacks and the backing of a Republican Congress, has sought to further extend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/the-administration-of-george-w-bush-emboldened-by-the-sept-11-attacks/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [When we criticize in Iran the actions of the government, the fundamentalists say that we and the Bush Administration are in the same camp.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-ebadi/when-we-criticize-in-iran-the-actions-of-the-government-the/) [Shirin Ebadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-ebadi/) > [We will finally complete the biometric entry-exit visa tracking system, which we need desperately. 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