Youzi said, “In conducting the rituals, the principle of harmony is the most valuable. The most precious point of a wise king to administer a country is lying here. Whatever they do, no matter big or small issue, they always follow this principle. However, if something cannot be handled by harmony, it is also recommended to limit it by laws and regulations.

小故事

战国时赵国舍人蔺相如奉命出使秦国，不辱使命，完璧归赵，所以被封了上大夫；又陪同赵王赴秦王设下的渑池之会，使赵王免受秦王侮辱。赵王为表彰蔺相如的功劳，封蔺相如为上卿。老将廉颇认为自己战无不胜，攻无不克，蔺相如只不过是一介文弱书生，只有口舌之功却比他官大，对此心中很是不服，所以屡次对人说：“以后让我见了他，必定会羞辱他。”

蔺相如知道此事后以国家大局为重，请病假不上朝，尽量不与他相见。后来廉颇得知蔺相如此举完全是以国家大局为重，向蔺相如负荆请罪。之后两人合好开始尽心尽力的辅佐赵王治理国家。

During the Warring States period, Lin Xiangru, a servant of the state of Zhao, was appointed a superior minister after he was ordered to go on a mission to Qin and returned the jade to Zhao without disgracing his mission. The king of Zhao honored him for his service by making him the superior minister. The old general, Lian Po, thought that he was invincible in battle and that Lin Xiangru was just a weak scholar and wanted to humiliate him.

When Lin Xiangru learned of this, he took sick leave from the court and tried not to see him. Later, when Lian Po learnt that Lin Xiangru's action was purely for the sake of the state, he apologised to him. The two of them were later reconciled and began to assist the king of Zhao to the best of their ability.