Power issuing from lords rarely lasts ten generations; from ministers, five; from their stewards, three.
自诸侯出，盖十世希不失矣；自大夫出，五世希不失矣；陪臣执国命，三世希不失矣。
Source: The Analects, Ji Shi XVI, Chapter 2
Author: Confucius
The Law of Political Decay: Confucius on the Shrinking Lifespan of Illegitimate Power
