Shen Buhai Quotes on Politics
Shen Buhai was a Chinese statesman and philosopher of the Warring States period, the chancellor of the small state of Han for fifteen years, and one of the founders of the Legalist school of Chinese political thought. This page collects quotes attributed to Shen Buhai on the topic of politics, drawn from across the philosopher's works.
Quotes
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Attributed to Shen Buhai:
“The ruler is empty; his ministers do the work of the state.”
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Attributed to Shen Buhai:
“Match the deed to the word, and reward and punish accordingly.”
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Attributed to Shen Buhai:
“He who lets the names of things slip into confusion has lost the means of rule.”
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Attributed to Shen Buhai:
“The wise ruler is unfathomable; what cannot be predicted cannot be manipulated.”
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Attributed to Shen Buhai:
“Method is the silent ally of the ruler against the cleverness of his ministers.”