It’s the key to governance to ensure sustained stability. Zheng (政) refers to the fundamental systems, laws, and policies of a state. Gui (贵) means the most valuable thing. Youheng (有恒) means to ensure stability. A country, especially a large country, must preserve the constancy of its basic systems and fundamental laws. Laws, especially fundamental ones, must not be changed from time to time at random. Otherwise, the country will land into political turmoil and social chaos, resulting in irreversible and irreparable damages. This is the same notion as embodied in the saying “governing a big country is like cooking small fish.”

What is most valuable for governance lies in its sustained stability, advocating clear and straight wording, not seeking novelty. (The Book of History)