《商君书·开塞》
所以在古代有效的方法就是把用道德教化民众放在首位；现在治理国家有效的方法就是把法治放在前面而使用刑罚。
故效于古者，先德而治；效于今者，前刑而法。
Therefore, in ancient times, the effective method was to put moral education of the people in the first place; now, the effective method of governing a country is to put the rule of law in front and use punishment.
<s>[INST] Break down the structure and provide an English interpretation of the presented Classical Chinese phrase: 故效于古者，先德而治；效于今者，前刑而法。 [/INST]
English interpretation: Therefore, in ancient times, the effective method was to put moral education of the people in the first place; now, the effective method of governing a country is to put the rule of law in front and use punishment.
Structural analysis:
故 (gù): Therefore
效 (xiào): To imitate, to follow
于 (yú): In, at
古者 (gǔ zhě): The ancients, in ancient times
先德 (xiān dé): Moral education, virtue
而 (ér): And, then
治 (zhì): To govern, to rule
效 (xiào): To imitate, to follow
于 (yú): In, at
今者 (jīn zhě): The present, nowadays
前刑 (qián xíng): Previous punishment, warning examples
而 (ér): And, then
法 (fǎ): Law, rule of law</s>
Break down the structure and provide an English interpretation of the presented Classical Chinese phrase: 故效于古者，先德而治；效于今者，前刑而法。
user
English interpretation: Therefore, in ancient times, the effective method was to put moral education of the people in the first place; now, the effective method of governing a country is to put the rule of law in front and use punishment.
Structural analysis:
故 (gù): Therefore
效 (xiào): To imitate, to follow
于 (yú): In, at
古者 (gǔ zhě): The ancients, in ancient times
先德 (xiān dé): Moral education, virtue
而 (ér): And, then
治 (zhì): To govern, to rule
效 (xiào): To imitate, to follow
于 (yú): In, at
今者 (jīn zhě): The present, nowadays
前刑 (qián xíng): Previous punishment, warning examples
而 (ér): And, then
法 (fǎ): Law, rule of law
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