Virtue And Law Poem by gershon hepner

Law, says Confucius, should only be used
to control all the ignorant masses
who lacking such guidance would all be confused
and behave like uncivilized asses,
but those who are civilized, wise and refined
don’t need any laws because virtue
ensures, so he says, that they won’t be unkind,
and protects them from laws that might hurt you
if you’re a poor ignorant peasant or prole
but not if you’re wealthy and clever.
Confucius should help you make virtue your goal
to keep away lawyers forever.


“Rule by virtue, ” a Confucian ideal, is being promoted in China once again. According to Confucius virtue rather than law should control the educated. return to Confucius is a sign of failure of communist ideals. The campaign for “rule by virtue” may be an attempt to immunize officials from the law.

5/1/01