Chinese Philosophers-Who Said It?

“The ruler does not try to work side by side with his

people, and they accordingly respect the dignity of

his position.”

• Confucius

• Laozi

• Hanfeizi

“Highest good is like water. Because water excels in

benefiting the myriad creatures without contending

with them and settles where none would like to be,

it comes close to the way.”

• Confucius

• Laozi

• Hanfeizi

“When a sage [wise person] rules a state, he does not

depend on people’s doing good of themselves. He

sees to it that they are not allowed to do what is bad.

If he depends on people doing good of themselves,

then within his borders he can count on less than

ten instances of success.”

• Hanfeizi

• Laozi

• Confucius

“If a ruler himself is upright [honest], his people will

do their duty without orders; but if he himself be

not upright, although he may order they will not

obey.”

• Laozi

• Hanfeizi

• Confucius

“To be humble at home, earnest at work, and faithful

to all. Even among wild tribes none of this must be

dropped.”

• Confucius

• Laozi

• Hanfeizi

“The more laws and edicts [official rules] are

imposed, the more thieves and bandits there will

be.”

• Confucius

• Laozi

• Hanfeizi

“Past and present have different customs [ways

of life]; new and old adopt different measures

[practices]. To try to use the ways of a generous and

lenient [easygoing] government to rule the people

of a critical age is like trying to drive a runaway

horse without using reins or whip.”

• Confucius

• Hanfeizi

• Laozi

“Seeing that our body, with hair and skin, is derived

from our parents, we should not allow it to be

injured in any way. This is the beginning of filial

respect [repaying a parent’s kindness]. We develop

our own character and practice the way so as to

perpetuate our name for future generations, and to

bring honor to our parents.”

• Hanfeizi

• Laozi

• Confucius

“The sage [wise person], because he does nothing,

never ruins anything; and, because he does not lay

hold of anything loses nothing.”

• Confucius

• Laozi

• Hanfeizi