Hui Ang was a statesman, rhetorician and philosopher from the State of Song during the Warring States period.
Hui Ang paid a visit to King Kang of Song. King Kang stamped his foot, cleared his throat and said impatiently, ‘I value courage and strength above all else; I have no time for talk of benevolence, righteousness or morality. What advice do you, my guest, have to offer me?’
Hui Ang replied, ‘I have a method whereby, even if a man is brave, he cannot pierce my body; even if he is strong, he cannot strike me. Is Your Majesty interested in this?’ King Kang of Song said, ‘Excellent! This is precisely what I wish to hear.’
Hui Ang said, ‘Even if they cannot pierce or strike me, this is still, in a sense, a humiliation. I have another method whereby, though a man may be brave, he will not dare to stab me; though he may be strong, he will not dare to strike me. Are you interested, Your Majesty?’ The King of Song replied, ‘Excellent! This is precisely what I wish to know.’
Hui Ang said, “The fact that they dare not stab or strike does not mean they do not harbour such thoughts. I have another method that can ensure people do not even entertain such thoughts in the first place. Are you interested, Your Majesty?” The King of Song replied, “Excellent! This is precisely what I desire.”
Hui Ang said, “Not harbouring such thoughts does not yet amount to a heart of compassion and benevolence. I have yet another method that can make every man, woman, old and young under heaven joyfully wish to care for me and treat me kindly. This is far superior to courage and strength, and far surpasses the previous levels of attainment. Are you interested, Your Majesty?” The King of Song replied, “This is precisely what I wish to attain.”
Hui Ang replied, ‘Confucius and Mo Zi were precisely such men. Confucius and Mo Zi possessed not even an inch of land, yet were revered like sovereigns; they held no official posts, yet were looked up to like elders. There is not a single man, woman, old or young in the whole world who does not crane their neck and stand on tiptoe, hoping to receive their protection and benefits. Now, Your Majesty, you are the ruler of a great state with ten thousand war chariots; if you could truly set your heart on such an aspiration, then all within your borders would benefit, and you would be far superior to Confucius and Mo Zi.” The King of Song had no reply.
Origin: “Lie Zi: Huang Di”
#56 说服的艺术
惠盎是战国时期宋国的政治家、辩客及哲学家。
惠盎拜见宋康王。康王跺着脚，咳嗽了一声，急不可耐地说：“我所崇尚的是勇敢和力量，不喜欢讲什么仁义道德。你这位客人有什么要指教我的呢？”
惠盎回答说：“我有一种方法，能让人即使勇敢，也刺不进我的身体；即使有力气，也打不中我。大王对此有兴趣吗？”宋王说：“好！这正是我想听的。”
惠盎说：“就算刺不进、打不中，这其实还算是受辱。我还有一种方法，能让人虽然勇敢却不敢来刺我，虽然有力气却不敢来打我。大王有兴趣吗？”宋王说：“好！这正是我想知道的。”
惠盎说：“不敢刺、不敢击，并不代表他们没有这个念头。我还有一种方法，能让人根本就没有这个念头。大王有兴趣吗？”宋王说：“好！这正是我想要的。”
惠盎说：“没有这种念头，也还不算有爱护和利人的心。我还有一种方法，能让天下所有的男女老少都欢欢喜喜地想要爱护我、对我好，这比勇敢和力量强多了，远远超过前面那几层境界。大王有兴趣吗？”宋王说：“这正是我想得到的。”
惠盎回答说：“孔子和墨子就是这样的人。孔丘、墨翟，没有一寸土地，却能像君主一样受人尊敬；没有官职，却能像长辈一样被人仰望。天下的男女老少，没有谁不伸长脖子、踮起脚尖，期盼能从他们那里获得安稳与好处。如今大王您是拥有万辆兵车的大国之君，如果真的能立下这样的志向，那么四境之内的人都能得到利益了，那您可比孔子、墨子强太多了。”宋王无言以对。
出自《列子·黄帝》