Shang Yang Quotes
Shang Yang, also known as Lord Shang, was a Chinese statesman and philosopher of the Warring States period, the chief minister of the state of Qin under Duke Xiao, and one of the founding figures of the Legalist school of Chinese political thought. Through a series of austere reforms he abolished hereditary privilege, instituted a system of standardized rewards and punishments, registered every household into mutual surveillance groups, and so transformed the agrarian and military power of Qin into the engine that, a century later, would conquer the warring states and found the imperial system. The quotes below are attributed to Shang Yang, organized by topic.
Shang Yang on Politics
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Attributed to Shang Yang:
“The state is strong by its laws; it is weak by its sentiments.”
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Attributed to Shang Yang:
“Heavy punishments lightly applied keep the people in awe; light punishments heavily applied invite contempt.”
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Attributed to Shang Yang:
“Reward agriculture and warfare; suppress everything else.”
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Attributed to Shang Yang:
“He who governs by ritual flatters the people; he who governs by law saves them.”
Shang Yang on Time
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Attributed to Shang Yang:
“What was wise yesterday may be foolish today; the law must change with the times.”