Before a ban has been stated clearly by the govern-
ment, severe punishments were enforced to suppress disorderliness. Before a well-planned military strategy has been devised, the armed forces were deployed in full force to invade a neighboring country. Is this not like cutting down the crops in order to destroy the locusts; or chopping down trees to get rid of infestations of worms or bugs; or swallowing poison in order to kill lice and fleas; or tearing down a house in order to chase away sparrows and rats?

Scroll 50: Bao Pu Zi

Thus, a sage ruler always has the welfare of the people at heart. He would never wage a personal vendetta at the expense of public justice.

Scroll 17: Han Shu, Vol. 5