管子 Guanzi · Chapter 47
Rectifying the Age
Observing Order and Disorder in the State
古之欲正世調天下者，必先觀國政，料事務，察民俗，本治亂之所生，知得失之所在，然後從事。故法可立而治可行。
Those in antiquity who wished to rectify the age and bring order to all under heaven invariably began by observing the state's governance, assessing its affairs, examining the customs of the people, tracing the origins of order and disorder, and understanding where gains and losses lay — only then did they act. Thus laws could be established and good governance carried out.
When the Fault Lies Above or Below
夫萬民不和，國家不安，失非在上，則過在下。今使人君行逆不修道，誅殺不以理，重賦斂，竭民財，急使令，罷民力，財竭則不能毋侵奪，力罷則不能毋墮倪。民已侵奪、墮倪，因以法隨而誅之，則是誅罰重而亂愈起。
When the myriad people are not in harmony and the state is not secure, if the fault is not with those above then the error is with those below. If the ruler acts perversely without cultivating the Way, executes without reason, imposes heavy taxes, exhausts the people's wealth, issues urgent commands, and drains the people's strength — when wealth is exhausted they cannot avoid encroaching and seizing, and when strength is drained they cannot avoid negligence. Once the people have encroached and been negligent, if you then pursue them with law and execute them, punishments grow heavier and yet disorder grows worse.
Mastery Through Established Law and Executed Commands
故為人君者，莫貴於勝。所謂勝者，法立令行之謂勝。法立令行，故群臣奉法守職，百官有常。法不繁匿。萬民敦愨，反本而儉力。故賞必足以使，威必足以勝，然後下從。
For the ruler of men, nothing is more precious than mastery. What is called mastery means established laws and executed commands. When laws are established and commands executed, ministers uphold law and keep their duties, the hundred officials have constancy, and laws are not tangled or hidden. The myriad people are sincere, returning to fundamentals and applying their strength frugally. Thus rewards must be sufficient to motivate and authority sufficient to prevail — only then will those below follow.
Adapting to the Times
聖人者，明於治亂之道，習於人事之終始者也。其治人民也，期於利民而止。故其位齊也，不慕古，不留今，與時變，與俗化。
The sage is one who understands the Way of order and disorder and is versed in the beginnings and ends of human affairs. In governing the people, his goal is to benefit them and nothing more. In establishing proper measure, he does not idolize antiquity, does not cling to the present, but changes with the times and transforms with customs.