Han Feizi was a prince of the small state of Han and a student of Xunzi. He stuttered and could not speak persuasively, so he wrote instead, producing the clearest and most ruthless political philosophy in Chinese history. He argued that rulers should rely not on the virtue of their ministers but on a system of rewards and punishments so precise that personal goodness becomes irrelevant. The King of Qin read his work and conquered China using his ideas. Han Feizi himself was imprisoned and forced to take poison by his former classmate Li Si.
Born into the small state of Han. He stuttered in speech and wrote instead, turning political theory into cold, precise essays.
Words
“When the wise ruler governs his people, he relies not on their doing him good, but on making it impossible for them to do wrong.”