Primary Sources
Primary sources are written
or made by people who were
at historical events, either
as observers or participants.
Primary sources include
journals, diaries, letters,
speeches, newspaper articles,
autobiographies, wills, deeds,
and financial records.
Look at the source line to
learn about the document
and its author. Consider
the reliability of the
information in the
document.
Skim the document to get
an idea of what it is about.
(This source includes three
paragraphs that are
distinct but address a
related theme—rulers and
moral behavior.)
Note any special
punctuation. Ellipses, for
example, indicate that
words or sentences have
been removed from the
original.
Use active reading
strategies. For instance,
ask and answer questions
on the content as you
read.
Use context clues to help
you understand difficult or
unfamiliar words. (From
the context, you realize
thatchastisements means
“punishments.”)
Before rereading the
document, skim the
questions. This will help
you focus your reading
and more easily locate
answers.
Moral Rulers
Book II, 3. The Master said, Govern the people by regulations,
keep order among them by chastisements, and they will flee
from you, and lose all self-respect. Govern them by moral force,
keep order among them by ritual and they will keep their self-
respect and come to you of their own accord....Book XI, 23.... The Master said,... What I call a great minister
is one who will only serve his prince while he can do so without
infringement of the Way, and as soon as this is impossible, resigns....Book XIII, 6. The Master said, If the ruler himself is upright, all will
go well even though he does not give orders. But if he himself is not
upright, even though he gives orders, they will not be obeyed.—The Analects of Confucius- Which sentence best expresses the main idea shared
by these paragraphs?
A. Rules and regulations are hard to live by.
B. Leaders should act morally in ruling the people.
C. A leader’s goodness is judged by the punishments he administers.
D. Rulers should expect their people to obey them no matter
what they say.- This advice from Confucius seems most appropriate for
A. workers and farmers.
B. merchants and town artisans.
C. rulers and their advisers.
D. soldiers and priests.answers: 1 (B); 2 (C)This is a collection of writings on government,
ethics, literature, and other subjects by the
ancient Chinese scholar and teacher Confucius.S8
Excerpt from The Analects of Confucius, translated by Simon Leys. Copyright © 1997 by Pierre Ryckmans. Used by
persmission of W. W. Norton & Company.STRATEGIES