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Han Fei Quotes

Han Fei , also known as Han Fei Zi, was a Chinese philosopher of the Warring States period "Chinese Legalist" school. He is often considered to be the greatest representative of Chinese Legalism for his eponymous work the Han Feizi, synthesizing the methods of his predecessors.His writings were very influential on the future first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang. After the early demise of the Qin dynasty Han's philosophy was officially vilified by the following Han Dynasty. Despite its outcast status throughout the history of imperial China, his political theory continued to heavily influence every dynasty thereafter, and the Confucian ideal of a rule without laws was never again realised. Shu Han's chancellor Zhuge Liang demanded emperor Liu Shan read the Han Feizi for learning the way of ruling.Han borrowed Shang Yang's emphasis on laws, Shen Buhai's emphasis on administrative technique, and Shen Dao's ideas on authority and prophecy, emphasising that the autocrat will be able to achieve firm control over the state with the mastering of his predecessors' methodologies: his position of power ; technique , and law .

✵ 279 BC – 232 BC
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Han Fei: 8 quotes4 likes

Famous Han Fei Quotes

“In dealing with those who share his bed, the enlightened ruler may enjoy their beauty but should not listen to their special pleas…”

Han Fei

明君之於內也，娛其色而不行其謁，不使私請。
Source: from "The Eight Villanies", Han Fei Tzu: Basic Writings, Columbia University Press, New York, 1996. Translated by Burton Watson.

“Remote fountains are of little help to nearby fires.”

Han Fei

遠水不救近火也。 from Han Fei Tzu Volume 22 (s:zh:韓非子#說林上第二十二)

“To govern the state by law is to praise the right and blame the wrong.”

Han Fei

from "Having Regulations—A Memorandum" in The Complete Works of Han Fei Tzu, Volume I, Arthur Probsthain, London, 1939. Translated by W.K. Liao.

“The way is the beginning of all beings and the measure of right and wrong.”

Han Fei

from "The Way of the Ruler", Han Fei Tzu: Basic Writings, Columbia University Press, New York, 1996. Translated by Burton Watson.

“The way of the ruler is to make certain that, if what a minister says beforehand does not tally with what he says later, or what he says later does not tally with what he has said previously, then although he may have fulfilled his task with distinction, he is condemned to certain punishment. This is what it means to hold your subordinates responsible.”

Han Fei

"Facing South", in Han Feizi: Basic Writings (2003)

“Be immeasurably great, be unfathomably deep; make certain that names and results tally, examine laws and customs, punish those who act willfully, and the state will be without traitors.”

Han Fei

"The Way of the Ruler", in Han Feizi: Basic Writings (2003)

“Take hold of the handles of government carefully and grip them tightly. Destroy all hope, smash all intention of wresting them from you; allow no man to covet them.”

Han Fei

"The Way of the Ruler", in Han Feizi: Basic Writings (2003)

“No state is forever strong or forever weak. If those who uphold the law are strong, the state will be strong; if they are weak, the state will be weak.”

Han Fei

國無常強，無常弱。奉法者強則國強，奉法者弱則國弱。
Source: "On Having Standards", in Han Feizi: Basic Writings (2003)

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