Shang Yang
Shang Yang (c. 390 – 338 BC), also known as Wei Yang, surnamed Gongsun, was a Chinese philosopher and government official during Chin dynasty rule. He advocated strict regimentation for citizens like a police state and founded a harsh legalist school.Wisdom and Quotes
- Punish severely the light crimes. ... If light offences do not occur, serious ones have no chance of coming. This is said to be "ruling the people in a state of law and order."
- He who prides himself an extraordinary person by his deeds is rejected by the world; he who has independent ideas is hated by mass.
- Shih-Chi
- The stupid don't even understand something that happened long ago, the wise understand it before it develops.
-Shih-Chi
- When the people are ignorant, one can become monarch through knowledge; when the generation is knowledgeable, one can become monarch through force.
- The Book of Lord Shang
- In the past, those who were able to regulate All-under-Heaven first had to regulate their own people; those who were able to overcome the enemy had first to overcome their own people.
The root of overcoming the people is controlling the people as the metalworker controls metal and the potter clay. When the roots are not firm, the people will be like flying birds and running animals: Who will then be able to regulate them?
The root of the people is law. Hence, those who excel at orderly rule block the people with law; then a good name and lands can be attained.
- The Book of Lord Shang
- Human beings have likes and dislikes; hence, the people can be ruled. The ruler must investigate likes and dislikes. Likes and dislikes are the root of rewards and penalties. The disposition of the people is to like ranks and emoluments and to dislike punishments and penalties. The ruler sets up the two in order to guide the people’s will and to establish whatever he desires.
- The Book of Lord Shang
- When one thousand people are engaged in agriculture and warfare, yet there is a single man among them engaged in Poems, Documents, argumentativeness and cleverness, then one thousand people all will become remiss in agriculture and warfare. This is the teaching that impoverishes the state and weakens the army.
- The Book of Lord Shang
Sun Tzu