Abstract: In pre-Qin days, the legalists held such basic standpoint about human nature, "Human nature is originally evil". The main content included: the human being's needs are motive force that push the development of human behaviors forward; and the starting point of management human beings violate the ceremony and propriety & moral principles; The desires of human beings are varied, and The pursuit of profit is the fundamental driving force, and the sole purse as well. The good or evil of human nature can be guided, the key is how the leaders initiate. The legalists combined law, tactic and momentum into integrity, and thus makes the leadership with characteristics of the legalists. The school also thought that those are the ones that are brilliant managers, good at management and wise and skilled at using law, tactic and momentum.

Key words: theory of human nature, leadership, the legalists in pre-Qin days