This Legalist excerpt from Han Feizi‑Chapter 34.5 draws on Shen Buhai’s ideas. Through various anecdotes and metaphors, it stresses rulers must keep secrets, hide personal desires and make independent decisions to evade ministerial manipulation.
Confucius said, “When serving a noble person, there are three common faults: to speak before it is your turn is called impetuousness; to remain silent when it is your turn to speak is called concealment; and to speak without observing the other’s expression is called blindness.”