The meaning of this is that rulers must be careful about how often to use the people. Cruel leaders that used the people to do there bidding often were reviled and lead to rebellion. Aloof leaders never used there people to do public works that helped the state, and made them vulnerable to more powerful kingdoms. Confucius believed that only using the people "In the proper season", which meant being prudent in using the people of a kingdom to help advance it, but being careful not to push them to the point of rebellion.
