Be Perceptive and Astute
63. Although there are faithful ministers and wise strategists in every country, some countries would still suffer heavy losses in battles, thereby putting their lives and the fate of their countries at stake. This is because the rulers listened to various advice but could not come up with wise decisions based on careful observation and highly critical analysis.
Scroll 48: Shi Wu Lun
64. People with treacherous characters may look sincere and their sweet talks are forever melodious like the music played on wind instruments, which could enthrall the audience and dazzle their eyes. It takes one who can discern right from wrong to verify the effects of good or ill doings, and the key to success or failure would hinge on one’s ability to determine who is speaking the truth.
Scroll 24: Hou Han Shu, Vol. 4
65. Conflicts among all beings with flesh and blood are inevitable unless they learn to live amicably with one another. Nothing is more destructive than a misleading speech. A ruler should be in good terms with the people, bring stability to the society, and able to discern right from wrong so that he could understand fully the aspirations of his people. For this, he will have to think and examine carefully what he hears.
Scroll 49: Fu Zi
66. A sage-ruler will not implement rules that have become obsolete. A wise ruler will reject ideas that are unfeasible.
Scroll 41: Huai Nan Zi
67. A ruler could anticipate the fermenting of an uprising if he could analyze and detect something unusual in a speech. If he engaged worthy scholars to work in his administration, ministers with treacherous characters would flee into hiding. When he entrusted administrative duties to his old and experienced ministers, everything would be done well. Recruiting selfless wise people who come out of their reclusive cultivation will enable them to put their invaluable wisdom to good use.
Scroll 40: San Lüe
68. The Marquis of Qi asked Prime Minister Yanzi: “What are the main concerns in running an administration?”
Yanzi replied: “A ruling administration should worry about being unable to differentiate between the righteous and the evil.”
“So how does one make a distinction between the two?” The Marquis asked again.
To this Yanzi said: “Observe the people who work closely with you carefully. If they are competent, they would assign tasks fit for their subordinates; in this way, the righteous and evil ones will soon be identified.”
On hearing this Confucius added: “This is quite a credible statement. If people of virtues are hired, the immoral ones would not have a firm footing in the government. But if the immoral ones gain power, there will be no opportunities for people of virtues to serve in the government.”
Scroll 43: Shuo Yuan
69. A straightforward remonstration from an upright person is better than submissive responses from the majority.
Scroll 8: Han Shi Wai Zhuan
70. Every ruler would dream of recruiting worthy officials to serve under him but among the people he hired, some turned against him. Despite intending only to weed out treacherous officials, it was somehow inevitable to involve a few worthy people. This happened as a result of rewards or punishments being wrongfully given and some officials being inappropriately appointed. A ruler would not have rewarded an undeserving individual if he had not believed that this award was justifiable. Likewise, he would not have wrongly punished a person if he had not believed this punishment was justifiable. The plain truth revealed that if a ruler could not discern right from wrong, while lacking the wisdom and vigilance in analyzing escalating rumors, he might erroneously hire unwise and disloyal people to serve him. Hence it may seem as if he has rewarded the worthy and punished the villains but in actual fact he has done the opposite. This would indeed be a most tragic scourge!
Scroll 50: Yuan Zi Zheng Shu