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则修文德以来之

則修文德以來之
zéxiūwéndéyǐláizhī
phrase

Meanings

  1. 1 then cultivate civil virtue to draw them in
  2. 2 (fig.) win people over through moral influence rather than force
  3. 3 (lit.) then refine cultural virtue so as to bring them

Examples

处理国际关系，孔子说'则修文德以来之'，靠软实力而非武力。
Chǔlǐ guójì guānxì, Kǒngzǐ shuō 'zé xiū wén dé yǐ lái zhī', kào ruǎn shílì ér fēi wǔlì.
On handling foreign relations, Confucius said 'cultivate civil virtue to draw them in' — rely on soft power, not force.
公司想吸引人才，与其高薪挖角，不如则修文德以来之。
Gōngsī xiǎng xīyǐn réncái, yǔqí gāoxīn wājiǎo, bùrú zé xiū wén dé yǐ lái zhī.
To attract talent, rather than poaching with high salaries, the company should 'cultivate virtue to draw them in.'

Tips

history
From 《论语·季氏》(Analects, Book 16, attributed to Confucius). Full passage: 故远人不服，则修文德以来之。既来之，则安之 (If distant people will not submit, then cultivate civil virtue to draw them in; once they have come, make them feel at ease). Confucius's rebuke to disciples 冉有 and 子路 when the Ji family planned to attack the small state of Zhuanyu — he argued rulers should win loyalty by moral example, not conquest.
usage
Classic three-part pattern: 远人不服 → 修文德以来之 → 既来之则安之. The line 既来之则安之 has drifted in meaning in modern use ('now that you're here, settle down') while this first line is still quoted in its original sense.

Stroke Order

则 zé
修 xiū
文 wén
德 dé
以 yǐ
来 lái
之 zhī