There was a natural harmony among man. If a man wanted to be respected from others he had to respect others. Family ties were very important and set a model for the government. A son has to respect his father and a father should take care of and respect his son. The son was even to obey and submit to his father even when his father neglected him. This is not to say that the father could get away with neglecting his son. The same goes for citizens and their leader.
