Wen Tao: Rewards and Punishments

King Wen asked Tai Gong:
"Rewards are meant to encourage people, and punishments to warn them. How can I reward one to inspire a hundred, and punish one to caution the multitudes?"

Tai Gong replied:
"Rewards demand integrity, punishments demand certainty. When rewards are trustworthy and punishments unavoidable, they are heard by ears and seen by eyes. Even those beyond hearing and sight are subtly internalized. Integrity flows unimpeded between heaven and earth, reaching even the divine—how much more so among humans?"