Confucius once said, "When Shun was the emperor, he selected Gao Yao to serve a very important position, and the malicious people stayed far away." (Analects of Confucius: "Duke Wen of Teng," part I). According to history books, Gao Yao was in charge of the judicial system in Shun's time (2294 – 2184 BC). He enforced the law with fairness and care. As a result, there were no unjust cases. He paid great attention to enlightenment, education and established rules for ceremonies and music.
 
Gao Yao was born in Gao Cheng (present day Liuan City, Anhui Province). He served under Emperors Yao, Shun and Yu over his lifetime. He was the Minister of Law under Emperor Shun. Together with Emperors Yao, Shun and Yu, he is considered one of the "Four Sages of Ancient China." Gao Yao believed that heaven created everything on earth and gave people benevolent and virtuous characteristics. Therefore, people need to follow heaven's arrangements. It is a person's sacred duty to maintain virtuous characteristics. He also proposed the ideas of "Heaven graciously distinguishes the virtuous. Heaven punishes the guilty. Sages display nine virtues in their conduct."
 
Gao Yao's idea of nine virtues includes the following: magnanimous yet prudent in behavior; mild-tempered yet assertive with own opinion; carry a modest yet serious attitude; being capable and earnest in duties; good at listening to others' opinions yet decisive; upright in action yet gentle in manner; direct in approach yet detail-oriented; being conscientious and down-to-earth; being strong and righteous.
 
Additionally, Gao Yao suggested to Emperor Yu a strategy of governing a nation. The emperor should be strict with himself in personal cultivation. The emperor serves as a role model and thus people will follow and respect the emperor. If the emperor cannot act with kindness and righteousness, people will not abide by the laws and rules, even if a country has them. The emperor should know how to choose the right officials. Only after he places the right people in each position, can the people benefit from the governing system. The emperor should respect his people and provide safety and prosperity for them. People's stability and prosperity reflect an emperor's virtuous governing methods.
 
皋陶“九德”
 
孔子说：“舜有天下，选于众，举皋陶，不仁者远矣。”（《论语﹒滕文公上》）史书上说皋陶为大理，执法严谨而公正，天下无冤狱。他注重教化，制礼作乐。
皋陶，皋城（今安徽六安）人，掌管司法，与尧、舜、禹一起被称为“上古四圣”。皋陶认为，上天造就了万物并赋予了其美好的德性，因此一切遵从天意，保持美好的德性是人的神圣职责。皋陶提出“天命有德”、“天讨有罪”、“圣人九德”等。
 
皋陶提出的“九德”是：“宽而栗（宽宏大量而又严肃恭谨），柔而立（性情温和而又有主见），愿而恭（态度谦虚而又庄重严肃），乱而敬（具有才干而又办事认真），扰而毅（善于听取别人意见而又刚毅果断），直而温（行为正直而又态度温和），简而廉（直率旷达而又注重小节），刚而塞（刚正不阿而又脚踏实地），强而义（坚强勇敢而又合符道义）。
 

皋陶还提出“慎身”、“知人”、“安民”的治国方略。“慎身”就是严格要求自己，以身作则，使百姓敬服。上行下效，而上其身不正，虽令不从。“知人”方面，是指只有知人善任才能为民谋利。“安民”指人民的生活安定了才能显示出德政的威力。