38 Quotes by Han Fei

Past and Present have different customs; new and old adopt different measures. To try to use the ways of a generous and lenient government to rule the people of a critical age is like trying to drive a runaway horse without using reins or whip.

I believe it is impossible to be sure of anything.

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.

The severe household has no fierce slaves, but it is the affectionate mother.

A ruler makes use of the majority and neglects the minority, and so he does not devote himself to virtue but to law.

Superior and inferior wage one hundred battles a day.

A filial son to his father can be a traitorous subject to his ruler.

People at present think that five sons are not too many and each son has five sons also, and before the death of the grandfather there are already 25 descendants. Therefore people are more and wealth Is less; they work hard and receive little.

He who claims to be sure of something for which there is no evidence is a fool, and he who acts on the basis of what cannot be proved is an imposter.