A matter succeeds through secrecy yet fails through leakage of words. It may not be the persuader himself who leaks secrets, but if his speech touches on what the ruler conceals, he will be endangered.
When the ruler outwardly pursues one matter yet intends to achieve another, if the persuader understands not only the surface matter but also its hidden purpose, he will be endangered.
If one plans an unusual policy properly, and wise men guess its content from outside, once the plan leaks, the ruler will surely suspect the persuader, endangering him.
Before the ruler’s favor runs deep, the persuader reveals all he knows. If his advice succeeds, his merit is forgotten; if it fails, he is suspected. Thus he is endangered.
If the noble ruler has faults, and the persuader openly points out his evils through rituals and righteousness, he will be endangered.
If the noble ruler devises a plan and claims credit for it alone, and the persuader knows the truth, he will be endangered.
Forcing the ruler to do what he cannot accomplish, or stopping him from what he cannot cease, endangers the persuader.
Discussing high‑ranking ministers with the ruler is seen as sowing discord; discussing minor attendants is seen as showing off influence; talking about those the ruler likes is seen as currying favor; talking about those he hates is seen as testing his mind.
Brief direct speech is deemed dull and clumsy; detailed elaborate speech is deemed wordy and disorderly; concise expression is deemed timid and reserved; bold unrestrained speech is deemed rude and insolent.
These difficulties of persuasion must be understood.
Note
This passage exposes the harsh reality of autocratic politics: rulers are suspicious, ego‑driven and unpredictable. Political advisors face unavoidable risks whether they speak plainly or elaborately, honestly or tactfully.
Han Fei
Core Legalist political thinker of the late Warring‑States Period. This passage is a key section of On the Difficulty of Persuasion (Shuo Nan), summarizing seven fatal risks and four rhetorical dilemmas for political advisors. Han Fei’s own life, executed after offending the Qin court, reflected these dangers personally.
Secrecy and Leakage Risk
Rulers hide true intentions and secret plans; any disclosure, even indirect, brings suspicion to advisors.
Seven Perils of Persuasion
Han Fei’s classic list of life‑threatening situations for strategists: knowing hidden motives, premature frankness, exposing faults, sharing secret plans, etc.
Four Speech Dilemmas
Advisors face a no‑win situation: too brief or too detailed, too reserved or too bold, all easily misjudged by suspicious rulers.
Warring‑States Strategist Culture
Wandering political advisors traveled among states; their survival depended on mastering ruler psychology and self‑protection skills rather than pure logic.
夫事以密成，語以泄敗，未必其身泄之也，而語及所匿之事，如此者身危。彼顯有所出事，而乃以成他故，說者不徒知所出而已矣，又知其所以為，如此者身危。規異事而當，知者揣之外而得之，事泄於外，必以為己也，如此者身危。周澤未渥也，而語極知，說行而有功則德忘，說不行而有敗則見疑，如此者身危。貴人有過端，而說者明言禮義以挑其惡，如此者身危。貴人或得計而欲自以為功，說者與知焉，如此者身危。彊以其所不能為，止以其所不能已，如此者身危。故與之論大人則以為閒己矣，與之論細人則以為賣重，論其所愛則以為藉資，論其所憎則以為嘗己也。徑省其說則以為不智而拙之，米鹽博辯則以為多而交之。略事陳意則曰怯懦而不盡，慮事廣肆則曰草野而倨侮。此說之難，不可不知也。
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