inferior may struggle for their own selfish desires. [Eventually,] the intellec-
tuals may form their own cliques to create rumors and to incite incidents
(Absurd encouragements)^20
and the whole organization may suffer from a crisis of struggle
between cliques and factions.
Feasibility
Laws and regulations should be feasible and possible for people of the
state to carry out:
The enlightened ruler provides rewards that are achievable and establishes
punishments that are avoidable. His charts are obvious to see, so his
restraint works; his teachings are clear to know, so his words are followed;
his laws are easy to practice, so his orders are obeyed. If the superior insists
on these three things without any selfish motive, than the subordinates will
be ruled by the law and act in accordance with the instruction of charts...
By doing so, the superior will never show any cruelty or anger, and the
subordinates will never be punished for their ignorance or stupidity. (How
to use men)^21
Rules in an organization must be so simple and feasible that they can
be carried out by everybody in order to achieve rewards and avoid
punishment. It is absolutely not proper to use a complicated doctrine
that cannot be understood easily by ordinary people as the basis of law:
Doctrines that only the wise men can understand should not be used as a
basis for official order, because people are not all wise men. Disciplines that
only the talents can practice should not be used as a part of law, because
people are not all talents. (Eight fallacies)^22
Enforceability
Once the law isannounced, it must be compulsory. Behaviors of obeying
or disobeying the law must be followed by reward or punishment:
The best laws are those which are uniform and inflexible. (The five
vermin)^23
Rewards should be reliable to encourage the talents to do their best; punish-
ment should be certain to inhibit the wicked from their evils. (Outer
congeries of sayings, the upper left series)^24
If rewards and punishments are not reliable, then the order of inhibition will
never be followed. (The two handles)^25
118 Kwang-kuo Hwang