Tao Te Ching

“honoring the worthy is the foundation of government... sage kings of ancient times showed no special consideration for their own kin, no partiality for the eminent and rich, no favoritism for the good-looking and attractive.”

— Mozi 墨子 470 – 391 BCE via Burton Watson
(Mòzǐ)
Chinese personification of Newton, da Vinci, and Jesus
from Honoring the Worthy