5.6
The Master gave Qidiao Kai leave to take office, but he replied,”I have not yet sufficiently perfected myself in the virtue of good faith.” The Master was delighted.
子使漆雕開仕。對曰：「吾斯之未能信。」子說。
Notes
Qidiao Kai is one of Confucius’ disciples renowned for virtue and humility.
Confucius encouraged Qidiao Kai to enter government service to practice benevolent governance. Qidiao Kai replied, “I am not yet confident in my ability [to govern justly].”
His refusal stemmed from honest self-awareness rather than blind compliance. Confucius rejoiced at this demonstration of sincere self-reflection.
Also this passage from the Analects essentially reflects the feudal concept of “success in studies leads to officialdom”.
“When one’s learning is adequate, one may take office; when one’s performance in office is adequate, one may go back to learning.”(The Analects 19.13)
It establishes the official career logic of “cultivating oneself first before assuming official duties” through the progressive relationship of “adequate learning > competent governance > resuming learning”. Consistent with Qi Diaokai’s principle of “declining official position when one is not confident in one’s own capability”, it takes “possessing sufficient virtue and competence as the prerequisite for holding official office” as its core tenet, rejecting the impetuous mentality of “taking office before one’s learning is adequate”.
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