"It is not difficult to govern. All one has to do is not to offend the noble families"

This quote by Mencius suggests that governing is not a difficult task if the ruler has the ability to keep the honorable households material and prevent upseting them. This indicates that maintaining the assistance of the rich and prominent members of society is important for effective governance, and that ruling without their support can be an overwhelming job. In addition, this quote highlights the significance of social hierarchy in ancient Chinese society, where noble households held significant power and influence.