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A truly enlightened ruler uses the law to select men for him; he does not choose them himself. He uses the law to weigh their merits; he does not attempt to judge them for himself.

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More quotes by Han Fei

The way is the beginning of all beings and the measure of right and wrong.

To govern the state by law is to praise the right and blame the wrong.

In dealing with those who share his bed, the enlightened ruler may enjoy their beauty but should not listen to their special pleas...

Take hold of the handles of government carefully and grip them tightly. Destroy all hope, smash all intention of wresting them from you; allow no man to covet them.

Be immeasurably great, be unfathomably deep; make certain that names and results tally, examine laws and customs, punish those who act willfully, and the state will be without traitors.

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Han Fei (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.