This Zhuangzi ‑ Qiushui (Autumn Floods) excerpt uses He Bo and Sea God’s dialogue to teach relativism of size and values. It includes well‑known parables like the well‑frog and the fish‑joy debate, urging humility and natural spontaneity.
This excerpt is from Explanation Seven in Han Feizi · Inner Congeries of Sayings I. Han Fei argues rulers should feign false appearances and use contrary words to probe suspects. Setting lures entraps them and lays bare their treacherous intentions.
This excerpt is from Canon Seven: Reversed Speech in Han Feizi. Han Fei advises rulers to feign appearances and speak ironically to probe suspects. By laying bait deliberately, the ruler lures suspicious figures into traps, forcing their treacherous true intentions to surface.
Han Feizi warns rulers: revealing likes/dislikes lets ministers manipulate you. Hide emotions, stay neutral to avoid deception and usurpation.
Shen Tong (minister of Qi) asked Mencius privately: “Can the state of Yan be attacked?”
When the state of Qi invaded and defeated Yan, King Xuan asked Mencius: “Some advise me not to annex Yan; others urge me to take it. We, a great state of ten thousand chariots, conquered another great state in just fifty days – surely this is Heaven’s will! If I refuse to take it,…