During the Warring States Period, there was a man in Chu who sold spears and shields. He first boasted that his shield was hard and said, "Nothing can destroy it!" " Then he boasted that his spear was sharp and said, "It can destroy everything! "The hostages in the market asked him," What will happen to them if you stab your shield with your spear? " The man couldn't answer. People laughed at him. A shield that cannot be pierced and a spear that can pierce all shields cannot coexist.

Extended data:

There can be no indestructible shield and spear in the world. The Chu people unilaterally exaggerated the role of spears and shields, resulting in a situation that could not be justified. Metaphor is inconsistent in speaking and doing things, and it is impossible to justify itself. You should think twice before you do anything or say anything.

Further compare the gains and losses of Dehua and the rule of law. First of all, it is pointed out that Shun's "salvation" only takes one year to solve a problem. People like Shun have a limited life span, but the faults (disadvantages) in the world are endless. Using endless years to correct endless mistakes can't solve many problems. After breaking the Confucian view of rule by virtue, the article immediately put forward a positive view of rule by law, arguing that the country will be at peace within ten days if rewards and punishments are clearly defined.

By exposing the contradictory words and deeds of Confucianism, this paper focuses on criticizing the Confucian thought of "rule by man", and holds that it is definitely impossible to govern the country by relying on individual sages and ministers, and only by relying on "law", "skill" and "potential" can we govern the world well.

Han Fei's proposition of "rule of law" does have the function of making up the disadvantages and rectifying the deviation for the Confucian theory of "rule of man", but it should not be absolutely opposed to "rule of law". While emphasizing the "rule of law", we should still pay attention to individual talents, exemplary role and the spirit of "being close to the people".