说苑/聖人之治天下也，先文德而後武力。

聖人之治天下也，先文德而後武力。

Eric Henry

When sages rule the realm, they put civil virtue first and military might second.

凡武之興，為不服也，文化不改，然後加誅。

Eric Henry

Military operations are undertaken when there is a refusal to submit or imperviousness to the transformative effects of culture; only then is chastisement applied.

夫下愚不移，純德之所不能化，而後武力加焉。

Eric Henry

Military might, that is, is to be used only against those so sunk in ignorance as to be incapable of change and those who show themselves to be completely impervious to the transforming power of pure virtue.