Han Feizi Tag Archive

The ruler needs to decide what’s best for the country, even with unpopular decisions

(Excerpt from Han Feizi translated by Burton Watson) those who do not understand how to govern invariably say, “You must win the hearts of the people!” If you could assure good government merely by winning...

Politics Read More

Humans cannot be trusted – Legalism

(Excerpt from Han Feizi translated by Burton Watson) Legalist thought in general, and that of Han Feizi in particular, is marked by a drastically low opinion of human nature. Some scholars detect in the latter case the...

China, Machiavellian Read More