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.