How to Read “民は之に由らしむべし、之を知らしむべからず”
Tami wa kore ni yorashimubeshi, kore wo shirashimubekarazu
Meaning of “民は之に由らしむべし、之を知らしむべからず”
The true and correct meaning of this proverb is: “Politics should be conducted based on principles that people can naturally accept and follow, and complex knowledge or theories should not be forcibly imposed upon them.”
This is a teaching for rulers, and it does not mean keeping the people ignorant, but rather calls for compassionate politics that considers the people’s perspective. The idea is that truly excellent politics must be something that people can naturally feel is “right” – something that is easy to understand and reasonable. Policies that require complex theories or difficult explanations cannot be called truly good politics. Even in modern times, this teaches the importance of creating environments and systems that people can naturally accept in leadership and organizational management, rather than forcing persuasion upon subordinates or the public.
Origin and Etymology
This proverb originates from the words of Confucius recorded in the ancient Chinese classic “Analects,” specifically in “Taibo Chapter 8.” The original text is “民可使由之、不可使知之,” which was transmitted to Japan and became widely known around the Edo period.
What’s interesting is that this phrase has long been interpreted as a philosophy for rulers to keep the people ignorant. However, modern Analects research has revealed that the meaning changes completely depending on the placement of punctuation. Traditionally, it was read as “The people should be made to follow it. They should not be made to know it,” meaning “The people should simply be made to obey politics, and there’s no need to teach them the reasons.”
However, since ancient Chinese texts had no punctuation, the reading “The people should be made to follow it, should not be made to know it” is considered more accurate by leading scholars. In this case, it means “Politics should be conducted so that people can naturally follow it, and knowledge should not be forcibly imposed” – a completely opposite meaning. Considering Confucius’s other teachings, the latter interpretation is thought to be more consistent with Confucian philosophy.
Usage Examples
- A true leader embodies the spirit of “The people should be made to follow it, should not be made to know it,” showing policies that people can naturally accept rather than complex explanations
- When I see politicians just listing difficult theories, I’m reminded of the phrase “The people should be made to follow it, should not be made to know it”
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, this proverb is often discussed in two contradictory contexts. One is its use to justify “information control” or “policies to keep people ignorant” based on the traditional misinterpretation. Particularly in politics, it’s sometimes quoted as an excuse when hiding inconvenient information.
However, understanding the true original meaning provides more important insights for our modern information society. With the spread of the internet, we are exposed to vast amounts of information, but more information is not necessarily better. Rather, information overload often dulls our judgment or causes us to lose sight of what’s essential.
This teaching is also very effective in corporate management. Excellent managers don’t impose complex management theories on their employees, but instead present simple and clear visions that everyone can accept. As Apple’s Steve Jobs said, “Simplicity is harder than complexity” – truly valuable things naturally resonate with people’s hearts.
The same applies in education, where excellent teachers don’t line up incomprehensible theories but create environments where learners can naturally understand. This may have been Confucius’s true intention.
When AI Hears This
This “misreading” incident reveals the terrifying political power held by tiny symbols like punctuation marks. The crux of the matter lies in interpreting “之を知らしむべからず” (the people should not be made to know). Traditionally, this was read as “the people must not be told the truth,” serving as justification for rulers’ policies of keeping the masses ignorant for over 2,000 years.
However, in the 1970s, Chinese scholars repositioned the punctuation marks and reinterpreted “之を知らしむべからず” as a double negative meaning “it is wrong not to inform them.” This created a democratic interpretation: “While the people should be made to comply, it is not good to keep them uninformed of the reasons.”
What’s remarkable is that this reinterpretation didn’t remain confined to academic debate. In China, it was utilized as a theoretical pillar for reform and opening-up policies, serving as grounds for information disclosure under the principle that “the people should be informed.” The same sequence of Chinese characters became a tool that could support dictatorship at one time and democratization at another.
This phenomenon vividly demonstrates the dual nature of language. Classical texts are not objective truths—their meanings are created by readers based on their historical context and political necessities. Whether Confucius originally meant one interpretation or the other is irrelevant. What matters is the infinite possibilities and dangers of interpretation, where identical text can justify completely opposite social systems.
Lessons for Today
The most important thing this proverb teaches modern people is that “true wisdom is the ability to communicate by putting yourself in the other person’s position.” Because we live in a knowledge society, we tend to think it’s good to convey lots of information and theories to others. However, explanations that people cannot naturally accept are ultimately meaningless.
Whether at home or at work, when trying to move people to action, it’s important to focus on communication that makes the other person think “I see, that’s certainly true” from the heart, rather than complex explanations or logic. This is not about looking down on others, but rather an expression of deep compassion for them.
Also, those in leadership positions should focus on creating environments where everyone naturally faces the same direction, rather than showing off their knowledge to subordinates or colleagues. True leadership is about creating situations where people spontaneously want to take action.
This ancient teaching shows us the importance of empathizing with others’ hearts in modern communication. Why don’t you try applying this spirit in your daily conversations?
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