The wit of Ancient Chinese Politest - Han Fei (280-233 BC):
Although it is over 2000 years from now, it is still usable today. It is similar to the Prince (Niccolo Machiavelli), which both are the realpolitik of absolute ruler.
The main ideas of these books are:
1 avoid any disobey of others:
all the pleasure belong to the sovereign
2 all people are equal before the law:
no one will be escape from the laws
nether peasants nor nobles
3 A Country's Strength Depends on Law
No country is permanently strong. Nor is any country permanently weak. If conformers to law are strong, the country is strong; if conformers to law are weak, the country is weak.
4 never let others read your mind
if you don't present of show your interest. Men will announce their opinions freely, without doubt. If you show your interest, men will only please you, hidden their original opinions.
Famous posthumous portrait of Niccolò Machiavelli...
Niccolo Machiavelli 1 u
Niccolo Machiavelli 1Sovereign observe men, not the men observe the sovereign.
You can't see your eyebrow with your own eyes. If you are the most talented man, you have things that you can't do. If you are the strongest in the world, you have things that you can't pick up. A sovereign needs others to help him/her; vice versa he/she won't be successes.
The aims of this book are 'how to be a bi-faces person' and 'strengthen law is the most important for a country'.
If everything works follow the law, unlike the other traditional Chinese philosopher, which everything works follow 'ethics'. I am sure that ethics are different among different people. The definition of 'ethics' is blurred. Sometimes, myth may control the country. It is very danger to let the myth atmosphere cover the whole country because sorcery is also blurred.