徒善不足以为政

徒善不足以為政

túshànbùzúyǐwéizhèng

phrase

Meanings

1 mere goodness of intent is not enough to govern
2 good intentions alone cannot run a state
3 governance requires institutions, not just virtue

Characters

goodness / moral intent

Examples

徒善不足以为政，光有善意而无制度不行。

Tú shàn bù zú yǐ wéi zhèng, guāng yǒu shànyì ér wú zhìdù bùxíng.

Mere goodness cannot govern — well-meaning intent without institutions will not do.

治理公司也一样，徒善不足以为政，必须有规则。

Zhìlǐ gōngsī yě yíyàng, tú shàn bù zú yǐ wéi zhèng, bìxū yǒu guīzé.

Managing a company is the same — goodwill alone cannot govern; there must be rules.

Tips

history

From 《孟子·离娄上》: 徒善不足以为政，徒法不能以自行 — 'Mere goodness is not enough to govern; mere laws cannot enforce themselves.' Mencius's paired insight: moral intent without institutional structure fails, and institutions without virtue also fail. Always cited with its twin clause.

usage

徒 = merely, only. Quoted in political theory and legal debate to argue for the combination of virtue and institutional design. The paired clause 徒法不能以自行 is equally famous.

Stroke Order

徒 tú

善 shàn

不 bù

足 zú

以 yǐ

为 wèi

政 zhèng