《管子·八观》
因此，有圣明的君主执政，刑罚总是很少，这并不是该用刑的不用刑，该治罪的不治罪；而是英明君主关闭了犯罪的门户，堵塞了犯罪的道路，消灭了犯罪的影响，使人民无由接触为非作歹的环境，因而人民走正道、做好事，就好像出自本性了。
是故明君在上位，刑省罚寡，非可刑而不刑，非可罪而不罪也；明君者，闭其门，塞其涂，弇其迹，使民毋由接于淫非之地，是以民之道正行善也若性然。
Therefore, when a wise monarch takes charge, punishments are always imposed sparingly, not because punishments should not be meted out or crimes should not be dealt with; but because a wise monarch has closed the gates to crime, blocked the paths to crime, eradicated the impact of crime, and kept people far away from criminal environments. As a result, the people act righteously and do good deeds as if it were their true nature.