Prologue: Facing the Inconvenient Truth of "Han Feizi"

Chapter 1.
What you need to live your one and only precious life

Let us live by reflecting on the standards of our actions, aligning them with justice.
I can't risk my life on a lottery with such a strong element of chance.
When I love others and wish them happiness, I can be like them too.
To communicate, you must express your positive feelings toward the other person without hiding them.
If I express my feelings freely, the listener will feel frustrated and uncomfortable.
Even in difficult and challenging situations, if you look at them calmly, you can find a solution.
Those with the DNA of victory can achieve further victory.
Excessive greed harms my body and mind.
Be aware that your thoughts will seep out and be known to others even without you saying them.
I set the standard for a comfortable life.
The first step to building trust with those around you is consistency between words and actions.
Opportunities don't come when you force them; they come naturally when you stick to the basics.

Chapter 2.
Things to keep in mind if you want to be successful at your job

Just as a wall collapses when there is a gap, every effect has a cause.
There's a difference between not being greedy and doing nothing.
The more difficult and challenging it is, the more I believe and act that good luck will come to me.
If you ignore the warning to be careful when things are going well, you'll regret it.
If you don't push forward with a firm mind, you can be shaken by even the smallest things.
Frequently changing your words when pushing forward a task only increases confusion rather than stability.
To move a mountain, you must first move a stone.
Good wine definitely needs time to mature.
You must be prepared to give up your flesh and take the bones.
Nothing is solved by being impatient and not trusting your colleagues.
In negotiations with others, you must hide your intentions to get what you want.
Flexible self-innovation and adaptation are the shortcuts to survival.
The more expert you are, the more you must stick to the basics when doing your work.
Only when you know your abilities and current status accurately can you see the solution.

Chapter 3.
What it takes to be more proactive and passionate than anyone else

Pushing things forward without regard for means will inevitably backfire.
Following the rules is like crossing a river in a safe boat.
We must find and resolve the cause of communication blockages.
If you only focus on the immediate profits, you miss the losses that slip away behind your back.
You must know the difference between a classic and an old book.
Depending on how you look at it, the same phenomenon can be seen and acted upon differently.
Even if the situation changes rapidly, there must be an escape route.
A natural, unadorned appearance is more attractive.
Focus on finding and removing obstacles to your growth.
Even if the moment comes when you break up with the person you trusted the most, you must accept it.
We all have different talents

Chapter 4.
How to achieve what you want while getting along well with those around you

My worth shouldn't be determined by the opinions of those around me.
Praise certainly, criticize carefully.
Let's be sincere rather than just talk the talk.
If you are drawn to glamour, you will be easily deceived.
If you walk while looking only at the sun, you might trip over a small stone.
Being too far ahead is not a matter of sense, it's just self-aggrandizement.
If you only focus on image making, it can become like building a sand castle.
We must believe in the power of collective intelligence to guess the number of jelly beans in a jar.
Treating others differently based on their appearance and position is the most foolish thing.
You should let the other person say what they want first.

Chapter 5: What You Need to Know to Live Wisely in a Cold World

Human relationships can only be properly understood as a matter of benefit, not good or evil.
If you don't show basic courtesy to each other, things will get awkward and uncomfortable.
I am more attracted to those who have wisdom rather than knowledge.
Sometimes, we need confirmation, not doubt, that someone is truly on our side.
We need the wisdom to listen carefully to the advice of those around us.
If you are not the cause of the problem, beware of those who benefit from your absence.
A life of self-satisfaction only makes life difficult for those around you.
Only when there is fair competition can the losers truly congratulate the winners.
A life that pretends to be perfect only leads to misunderstanding and distrust.
Synergy effects can be achieved by understanding the abilities and tendencies of your colleagues.
An organization that doesn't recognize employees for their efforts cannot move forward.
We can only move forward together if we recognize our different positions.

References

“By what standards do you live your life?”
Finding direction in life through a timeless, realistic philosophy.

"Reading Han Feizi at Thirty" is a book that tells us how to view reality and how to stay centered in these uncertain times.
The author reinterprets the true nature of reality, which we are currently missing, through three axes: human relationships, work, and attitude toward life.
If the Analects speak of ideal morality, the Han Feizi, on the other hand, frankly reveals the power of human desires, relationships, and the movements of interests.
The author says that only when we look at this reality without turning away from it can we see the cause of the problem and its solution.
This book goes beyond simply explaining the classics; it offers practical advice that can be applied directly to life.

As I read the book, there are moments when the cold sentences of “Han Feizi” unexpectedly feel warm.
This is because of the deep understanding of humanity that is revealed through cool-headed analysis.
The book also emphasizes an attitude of not hiding one's emotions but maintaining courtesy. In the age of social media, in the lighthearted relationships and unstable workplaces, courtesy and restraint are no longer outdated virtues, but rather survival skills.
The virtue of the Han Feizi lies in its ‘practical wisdom’ rather than in its moral admonitions.
Just like the advice not to bet your life on the lottery, I value principles over luck, reason over emotion, moderation over greed, and focus on the power to govern myself rather than changing the world.
After closing the book, you realize one thing.
The world is still complex and humans are still contradictory, but living a life of principles is ultimately what gives us the power to protect ourselves.
"Reading Han Feizi at 30" is a must-read practical philosophy book for readers in their 30s who want to re-establish the direction of their lives.