Han Feizi Quotes
Han Feizi was a 3rd-century BC Chinese political philosopher and one of the principal founding figures of the Legalist school of philosophy. Drawing on earlier Legalist thinkers including Shang Yang and Shen Buhai, he produced the most systematic statement of Legalist political thought in the book that bears his name. The quotes below are attributed to Han Feizi, organized by topic.
Browse Han Feizi by topic
Han Feizi on Justice
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“The Law(道, Way) is Huge and Shapeless, its Moral extends everywhere.”
夫道者、弘大而無形，德者、覈理而普至。至於群生，斟酌用之，萬物皆盛，而不與其寧。 | More Power" (《揚權》) -
“When all within the four seas have been put in their proper places, [the sage] sits in darkness to observe the light. When those to his left and right have taken their places, he opens the gate to face the world. He changes nothing, alters nothing, but acts with the two handles of reward and punishment, acts and never ceases: this is what is called walking the path of principle.”
四海既藏，道陰見陽。左右既立，開門而當。勿變勿易，與二俱行，行之不已，是謂履理也。 | Wielding Power", 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.”
國無常強，無常弱。奉法者強則國強，奉法者弱則國弱。 | On Having Standards", in Han Feizi: Basic Writings (2003) -
“A truly enlightened ruler uses the law to select men for him; he does not choose them himself. He uses the law to weigh their merits; he does not attempt to judge them for himself.”
On Having Standards", in Han Feizi: Basic Writings (2003) -
“To govern the state by law is to praise the right and blame the wrong.”
"Facing South" (《南面》) | from "Having Regulations—A Memorandum" in The Complete Works of Han Fei Tzu , Volume I, Arthur Probsthain, London. Translated by W.K. Liao. -
“The way is the beginning of all beings and the measure of right and wrong.”
"The Way of the Ruler" | from "The Way of the Ruler", Han Fei Tzu: Basic Writings , Columbia University Press, New York. Translated by Burton Watson.
Han Feizi on Knowledge
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“夫道者、弘大而無形，德者、覈理而普至。至於群生，斟酌用之，萬物皆盛，而不與其寧。”
The Law(道, Way) is Huge and Shapeless, its Moral extends everywhere. -
“四海既藏，道陰見陽。左右既立，開門而當。勿變勿易，與二俱行，行之不已，是謂履理也。”
When all within the four seas have been put in their proper places, [the sage] sits in darkness to observe the light. When those to his left and right have taken their places, he opens the gate to face the world. He changes nothing, alters nothing, but acts with the two handles of reward and punishment, acts and never ceases: this is what is called walking the path of principle. -
“from "The Eight Villanies", Han Fei Tzu: Basic Writings , Columbia University Press, New York, 1996. Translated by Burton Watson.”
In dealing with those who share his bed, the enlightened ruler may enjoy their beauty but should not listen to their special pleas... -
“國無常強，無常弱。奉法者強則國強，奉法者弱則國弱。”
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. -
“On Having Standards", 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 Feizi on Politics
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Attributed to Han Feizi:
“When the ruler relies on his own intelligence and discards laws, even his ablest ministers will fail him.”
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Attributed to Han Feizi:
“The enlightened ruler does not need the worthy or the wise; he relies on law.”
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Attributed to Han Feizi:
“If laws and orders are clear, no one need rely on the wisdom of others.”
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Attributed to Han Feizi:
“When men are most numerous and goods are scarce, when men labour painfully and yet have little to live on, then naturally they will quarrel.”
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Attributed to Han Feizi:
“The carpenter does not throw away the line because the wood is crooked; the ruler does not abandon the law because the people are unruly.”
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“Wielding Power", in Han Feizi: Basic Writings (2003)”
When all within the four seas have been put in their proper places, [the sage] sits in darkness to observe the light. When those to his left and right have taken their places, he opens the gate to face the world. He changes nothing, alters nothing, but acts with the two handles of reward and punishment, acts and never ceases: this is what is called walking the path of principle. -
“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.”
"The Way of the Ruler" | "The Way of the Ruler", 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 .”
"The Way of the Ruler" | "The Way of the Ruler", in Han Feizi: Basic Writings (2003) -
“"The Way of the Ruler", in Han Feizi: Basic Writings (2003)”
"The Way of the Ruler"
Han Feizi on Time
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Attributed to Han Feizi:
“Past and present have different customs; new and old must be measured by different standards.”
Han Feizi on Virtue
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Attributed to Han Feizi:
“Men of antiquity strove to be known for moral excellence; men of the present age strive for cleverness and strength.”