 The Legalists’ strong adherence to the principles of monarchism is self-evident; but it is not free of manifold tensions and contradictions. Those are fully epitomized in Han Fei’s thought. Han Fei shared his predecessors’ view of the ruler as the pivot of sociopolitical order, the sole guarantor of stability and prosperity of his subjects; yet he was also bitterly aware of the ruler’s inadequacy. The very fact that the monarch—unlike his officials—owed his position to pedigree alone meant that this position would more often than not be occupied by a mediocrity. Multiple historical examples scattered throughout Han Feizi unequivocally demonstrate how devastating the ruler’s ineptitude could be (Graziani 2015). The intrinsic contradiction between an institutionally infallible and humanly erring sovereign is the major source of tension in the Han Feizi (Pines 2013b).