There are three undeniable principles in the world: first, even the wisest mind cannot accomplish everything; second, even the strongest force cannot lift everything; third, even the mightiest warrior cannot defeat every opponent.
Therefore, even with the wisdom of Yao, without the assistance of the multitude, no great achievement can be established. Even with the strength of Wu Huo, without the help of others, one cannot lift oneself. Even with the valor of Meng Ben and Xia Yu, without the guidance of laws and methods, one cannot achieve lasting victory. Thus, there are circumstances that cannot be obtained, and affairs that cannot be accomplished.
Wu Huo considered a thousand jun (an enormous weight) to be light, yet considered his own body to be heavy – not because his body weighed more than a thousand jun, but because the circumstances did not permit it. Li Zhu could easily see objects a hundred paces away, yet found it difficult to see his own eyebrows and eyelashes – not because a hundred paces was closer than his own eyebrows, but because the natural order did not allow it.
Therefore, an enlightened ruler does not press Wu Huo for his inability to lift himself, nor does he trouble Li Zhu for his inability to see himself. By leveraging favorable circumstances and pursuing the path of least resistance, one can achieve great renown with minimal effort.
The seasons have their waxing and waning, affairs have their advantages and disadvantages, all things have their life and death. If a ruler displays joy or anger in response to these three changes, then even men of unshakable loyalty will turn their hearts away from him. The depth of the sages’ wisdom is indeed profound.
Therefore, an enlightened ruler observes others, but does not allow others to observe him. He understands that Yao could not succeed alone, that Wu Huo could not lift himself, and that Meng Ben and Xia Yu could not overcome themselves. With laws and methods, the Way of observing conduct is complete.
Note
This Han Feizi chapter illustrates human inherent limits via multiple ancient figures. It advises enlightened rulers to leverage favorable circumstances, uphold laws‑methods, and keep their emotions hidden to govern effectively.
Yao (尧):
One of the legendary Five Emperors in ancient Chinese mythology. He was considered the epitome of wisdom and virtue, famous for choosing the most capable successor (Shun) rather than passing power to his own son. Han Fei uses him as the ultimate example of wisdom – yet even Yao needed the support of others to achieve greatness.
Wu Huo (乌获):
Wu Huo, a legendary strongman of the Warring States period, said to be able to lift a thousand jun (千钧, approximately 30,000 catties or about 15 tons). He serves as the archetype of supreme physical strength, yet Han Fei points out the paradox that even he could not lift his own body.
Meng Ben (孟贲) and Xia Yu (夏育):
Two of the most famous warriors in ancient Chinese history. Meng Ben was known for his fearlessness – legend says he could pull a tiger by its tail. Xia Yu was equally renowned for his courage. Together, they represent the pinnacle of martial prowess, yet Han Fei argues that even they could not achieve lasting victory without the guidance of laws and methods (法术).
Li Zhu (离朱):
A mythical figure from the era of the Yellow Emperor, renowned for having the sharpest eyesight in the world. He could supposedly see the tip of an autumn hair from a hundred paces away. Han Fei uses him to illustrate the paradox that even the keenest observer cannot see his own eyebrows.
法术 (Fǎ Shù):
In Legalist philosophy, this does not mean “magic” as in Western fantasy. It refers to the combination of laws (法) and methods/techniques (术) – the systematic tools a ruler uses to govern. Laws provide objective standards; methods refer to the ruler’s techniques for managing and evaluating officials.
势 (Shì):
A core Legalist concept meaning “strategic advantage,” “circumstances,” or “positional power.” It refers to the objective conditions and momentum that make success possible or impossible. Han Fei argues that a wise ruler must work with favorable circumstances rather than against unfavorable ones.
千钧 (Qiān Jūn):
A jun (钧) was an ancient Chinese unit of weight, roughly equivalent to 30 catties (about 15 kg). A thousand jun thus represented an almost unimaginable weight, used here as a hyperbolic expression of extreme heaviness.
The enlightened ruler observes others but does not let others observe him:
This is one of Han Fei’s most famous political maxims. It reflects the Legalist belief that a ruler should remain inscrutable – like a mirror that reflects everything but reveals nothing about itself. This prevents ministers from manipulating the ruler by reading his emotions and preferences.
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