yǐ以lì力fú服rén人
To subdue people by force or coercion; to enforce obedience through power rather than conviction.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
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Story:
During the Warring States period, Mencius traveled to various states to advocate his philosophy of benevolence.
Some people argued that one could still achieve dominance through military force, rendering benevolence unnecessary.
Mencius responded, "To dominate by military force requires a foundation of national wealth and a strong populace; it involves subjugating people by force, not by genuine conviction. However, to dominate through benevolence allows people to be truly convinced and willingly submit, which in turn makes the nation powerful."