This article draws on Han Feizi’s fables, including the rooster‑cat metaphor and Duke Zhao of Han’s story. It advocates strict functional boundaries: avoid encroaching on others’ roles to prevent blurred accountability in daily life scenarios.
This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 42 covers two dialogues. It stresses testing officials in low‑level posts, and records Han Fei’s stance: reformers should pursue public benefit via laws despite personal peril, rejecting self‑preserving cowardice.
This original‑text excerpt from Zhuangzi ‑ Renjianshi features multiple fables. It explores perilous worldly‑political engagement, introduces “Mind‑Fasting”, and illustrates survival wisdom of “the usefulness of uselessness”.
Mencius rejects blind fatalism. All events belong to destiny, yet gentlemen only accept righteous fate. Wise people evade unnecessary risks; dying for the Way is proper fate, while death from crime is not.
Confucius names Weizi, Jizi and Bigan the three benevolent men of the Shang. Though they took vastly different paths—fleeing, feigning madness, dying in remonstrance—all acted out of loyal care for their state, showing benevolence allows flexible expedient choices.
Mencius refutes the rumor that Baili Xi sold himself for sheepskins to herd cattle and seek office. He praises Baili Xi’s wisdom in abandoning a doomed lord and serving Duke Mu honorably, arguing virtuous men would never degrade themselves for power.