It is not that I, Han Fei, find speaking difficult in itself. The true difficulty lies in this:
If my words are smooth‑flowing, elegant and elaborate, I am deemed flashy yet insubstantial.
If I am sincere, respectful, upright and prudent, I am considered clumsy and illogical.
If I speak extensively with numerous citations and analogies, I am regarded as empty and useless.
If my arguments are concise, direct and unadorned, I am seen as harsh and unpersuasive.
If I speak sharply to those close to the ruler and discern human nature, I am accused of slander and disrespect.
If my discourse is broad‑ranging, profound and unfathomable, I is labeled boastful and impractical.
If I discuss trivial daily matters with detailed examples, I am judged shallow.
If I speak about current affairs without opposing the ruler, I am suspected of craving survival and flattering superiors.
If I depart from common customs and sound eccentric, I am called absurd.
If I am quick‑witted and eloquent with ornate language, I am taken for a pretentious chronicler.
If I abandon literary polish and speak plainly and sincerely, I am deemed vulgar.
If I often quote The Book of Songs and The Book of Documents, following ancient ways, I is mocked as merely memorizing classics.
These are the reasons why I find speaking difficult and face great distress.
Note
This passage reveals the tragic reality of ancient court politics: loyal advice is often misjudged, and all forms of speech may become grounds for blame, making sincere persuasion extremely dangerous.
Han Fei
The last great Legalist thinker of the Warring States Period. This passage is from his famous essay On the Difficulties of Persuasion (Shuonan), in which he analyzes the dangers and paradoxes of persuading autocratic rulers.
Persuasion Politics in Warring States Period
Wandering scholars, notably Su Qin and Zhang Yi, traveled between states to advise kings. Yet no matter what rhetorical style they used, they risked misunderstanding, suspicion or punishment by autocratic rulers. This is known as the core paradox of political persuasion.
Rhetorical Dilemma
Legalists believed rulers were self‑interested, emotional and arbitrary. Advisors could easily be slandered no matter how loyal they were.
Han Fei lists nine rhetorical styles and their negative interpretations, showing that truth and logic matter less than ruler’s subjective judgment. Any speaking style can be twisted into a fault.
Classic Texts
*The Book of Songs* and *The Book of Documents* were core Confucian classics. Quoting them could be seen as either wise tradition or rigid memorization, depending on the ruler’s mood.
Leave a Reply