Zilu appointed Zigao as magistrate of Fei. The Master said, “You are harming that young man!”
Zilu replied, “There are people to govern and altars of soil and grain to tend – why must one read books before being considered learned?”
The Master retorted, “This is precisely why I detest glib talkers who twist words to justify themselves!”
Note
This passage from the Analects of Confucius highlights his insistence on proper preparation before assuming public office – a core tenet of his political and educational philosophy. For Confucius, governance is not merely administrative; it is a moral vocation requiring deep grounding in classical learning, ritual propriety, and ethical reflection. Appointing the young and untrained Zigao to a position of authority, without adequate study, risks both poor governance and the moral corruption of the appointee himself – hence “you are harming that young man.” Zilu’s defense – that practical experience suffices – reflects a utilitarian view Confucius rejects. While he does not dismiss real-world engagement, he insists that action without foundational learning leads to arrogance, error, and injustice. His final rebuke – “I detest glib talkers” – targets not just Zilu’s argument but the broader tendency to rationalize shortcuts in moral cultivation.
True learning, in Confucianism, integrates study and practice, but study must come first to shape character and judgment. This episode thus defends the priority of education in ethical leadership and warns against conflating busyness with virtue.
Further Reading
The Master said, “You! Let me teach you what true knowledge is: to know what you know, and to know what you do not know – that is true knowledge.” Analects 2.17 (Wei Zheng)
Critiques Zilu’s overconfidence; governing without knowing is dangerous – true wisdom includes recognizing one’s limits.
子路使子羔為費宰。子曰：「賊夫人之子。」子路曰：「有民人焉，有社稷焉。何必讀書，然後為學？」子曰：「是故惡夫佞者。」
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