Han Feizi uses Mi Zixia’s story: rulers’ favor shifts arbitrarily. Avoid their “forbidden scale” to survive persuasion.
Han Feizi uses three fables to show: knowing truth is easy, but speaking it safely – timing, context, trust – is hard.
Han Feizi lists persuasion risks: knowing secrets, exposing faults, misjudging tone – all can anger suspicious rulers.
Han Feizi warns persuaders to match rulers’ true motives: honor, profit, or both. Misjudging hidden desires leads to rejection.
Han Feizi states persuasion’s true difficulty is understanding the ruler’s mind, not one’s own wisdom or eloquence.
Han Feizi states ruler and minister interests clash. Powerful cliques, corrupt and foolish, deceive rulers and ruin states.
Han Feizi warns rulers not to let unworthy attendants judge officials. It corrupts governance and blocks upright talent.
Han Feizi warns weak rulers let cliques seize power. Unchecked, states fall like Qi and Jin, despite wealth and land.