The Master said, “The noble person cannot be fully known through small matters, yet can be entrusted with great responsibilities; the petty person cannot be entrusted with great responsibilities, yet can be understood through small matters.”
Note
By contrasting the “noble person” (junzi) and the “petty person” (xiaoren), this saying reveals Confucius’ profound insight into moral character and capacity.
“Cannot be fully known through small matters” does not mean the noble person is incompetent in trivial affairs, but rather that one should not judge his overall worth solely by minor details or short-term behavior. The noble person aspires to righteousness and cares for the world; his true virtue and ability manifest when handling major affairs or facing principled challenges. Judging him only by daily minutiae – such as punctuality or social fluency – risks underestimating his real stature.
“Can be entrusted with great responsibilities” emphasizes that, due to his firm moral convictions, broad-mindedness, and long-term vision, the noble person is capable of bearing weighty duties concerning state, society, and ethical order. His value shines in “great matters.”
Conversely, “the petty person cannot be entrusted with great responsibilities” points out that although the petty person may be shrewd and skilled in handling specific tasks (“can be understood through small matters”), his lack of integrity, short-sightedness, and absence of moral courage make him unfit for major roles. Entrusting him with important duties often leads to failure or even disaster due to selfish motives.
This distinction is not about social status, but about moral character and breadth of vision. Confucianism teaches that in appointing people, one should “observe great principles and overlook minor faults” – assessing whether someone possesses the virtue and capacity for great responsibility, rather than demanding perfection in trivialities.
In modern talent selection, this remains a vital warning: Do not dismiss someone’s strategic capability because of minor flaws, nor assign critical, high-stakes roles solely based on someone’s competence in details. True leadership must be tested by “great matters.”
In short, Confucius teaches: To understand a person, look at his grand principles; to employ him, gauge his capacity. The noble person excels in the great Way; the petty person is confined to petty skills.
Further Reading
The Master said, “The noble person remains steadfast in poverty; the petty person, when impoverished, sinks into excess.” Analects 15.2 (Wei Ling Gong)
Both contrast how junzi (gentleman) and petty person respond under pressure – highlighting differences in moral resilience and character depth.
The Master said, “The noble person understands righteousness; the petty person understands profit.” Analects 4.16 (Li Ren)
Reinforces the fundamental difference in motivation – junzi guided by principle, petty person by self-interest – explaining why only the former can bear great trust.
The Master said, “Look at what a person does, observe the path he takes, examine where he finds peace. How can a person hide? How can he hide?” Analects 2.10 (Wei Zheng)
Advocates deep, holistic assessment of character – not superficial judgment – aligning with the idea that true worth requires looking beyond “small matters.”
子曰：「君子不可小知，而可大受也；小人不可大受，而可小知也。」
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