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Confucius Counseling Of The Duke Ai Analysis

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Confucius Counseling Of The Duke Ai Analysis
A multitude of components factor into making a strong leader or government, some more valuable than others. Throughout history, there have been many great governments and leaders, although they all had different characteristics that made them so proficient. Many of these people ruled through violence and fear, although the most powerful of them used more harmonious means of leadership. “Confucius Counsels the Duke Ai on Government”, “Cyrus the Great and Religious Toleration”, and Thucydides’ “Funeral Oration of Pericles” are examples that rulers who value peace and kindness towards their subjects are the greatest and strongest. The governments and leaders in the ancient world who possessed the qualities of tolerance, peace, and generosity created …show more content…
Confucius was a Chinese philosopher born in 551 B.C.E. (Voyages, 73). The school of thought named Confucianism is based on his teachings and philosophies (Voyages, 73). His teaching’s main focus was on the importance of peace and ritual (Voyages, 73). He offered his wisdom to many important people of his time, including the Duke Ai. While conferring with the Duke Ai, Confucius gives him advice concerning ruling over his people and how to become a better leader. He tells the Duke Ai that a great ruler must prize benevolence and not encourage violence and discourse ("Confucius Counsels the Duke Ai on Government." CourseReader, Gale, 530). Confucius also tells the Duke Ai of the importance of valuing men with talents and artisans and the need to be kind and considerate to his people and to treat them with respect ("Confucius Counsels the Duke Ai on Government." CourseReader, Gale, 530). Confucius’ advice emphasizes the significance of leaders to value their people and treat them with kindness to become more efficient leaders. Throughout history, there have been many strong and mighty societies and empires, although all of these governments and leaders have ruled over their states differently. The most successful of these societies were the ones that chose to rule through benevolence and tolerance. The documents recorded in “Cyrus the Great and Religious Toleration” and “Confucius Counsels the Duke Ai on Government” show that societies such as the Persian Empire and the Zhou Dynasty in China did not rely on terror and violence to rule the subjects, but rather through generosity and

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