Those who serve as ministers can be compared to hands: reaching up, they take care of the head; reaching down, they take care of the feet. Han Fei Read Quote
If ministers forget their ruler and establish relationships with foreign powers in order to advance the interests of their confederates, there will be scant reason for subordinates to obey their superiors. Han Fei Read Quote
If you rely on political factions to promote men to office, the people will work to develop instrumental relationships and will not seek to be useful with regard to the law. Thus, a ruler who mistakes reputation for ability when assigning offices will see his state fall into disorder. Han Fei Read Quote
The people in the well-ordered ages of the past upheld the public law and abandoned private strategies; they focused their intentions and unified their conduct. Everything they did was for the sake of being employed by the ruler. Han Fei Read Quote
The ruler who possesses methods of government does not follow the good that happens by chance but practices according to necessary principles. Law, methods, and power must be employed for government: these constitute its ‘necessary principles.’ Han Fei Read Quote
A wise ruler, when he makes his laws, is bound to find himself in conflict with the world. Han Fei Read Quote
If a ruler can get rid of private crookedness and promote the public law, his people will become secure, and his state will become well ordered. Han Fei Read Quote
The intelligent ruler makes the law select men and makes no arbitrary appointment himself; he makes the law measure merits and makes no arbitrary judgment himself. Han Fei Read Quote
