Duke Ding of the State of Lu asked: “Is there a single remark that can make a country thrive?” Confucius replied: “No single remark can be expected to perform such a deed. There is a saying: ‘It is not easy to be a ruler, nor is it easy to be a court official.’ However, a ruler who truly understands how hard it is to govern a country will have a vision, which is almost like a single remark, and that will make his country prosper.” (The Analects)