Mencius (-372–-289 BC) Chinese philosopher
7B:14. Variant translation: The people are the most important ... and the ruler is the least important.
The people are the most important element in a nation; the spirits of the land and grain come next; the sovereign counts for the least. note: Most precious are the people; next come the spirits of land and grain; and last, the princes. note: The people are the most important ... and the ruler is the least important.
The Mencius