The family was the basis of society for Confucius, and in his teachings, family relationships are used to explain the proper relationships between the government and the people. The most obvious of these is the emperor, who, by no accident, was often compared to the father of all the people. The people have a duty to respect, honor and obey the emperor, just like the children to a parent. However, the emperor also has a responsibility to protect and nurture his subjects, reflecting a parent's relationship with their children.