"Let all who oppose my will be buried alive. Let their families be made an example."

"These men, Qin Shi Huang declared, claimed to be sorcerers. If they really had magic powers, then they could bring themselves back to life."

"I will not tolerate dissent. The unity of the empire depends on absolute obedience."

"I have collected all the writings of the Empire and burnt those that were of no use."

"All books shall be burned except those on medicine, divination, and agriculture."