The Master said, “Meng Gongchuo would be more than capable as a senior counselor to the Zhao or Wei families of Jin, but he would not be suited to serve as a chief minister of small states like Teng or Xue.”
Note
This statement from The Analects of Confucius reflects his core principle in personnel management: assign roles according to individual capacity – let each person fulfill their unique potential.
- Meng Gongchuo was known for his integrity, calm demeanor, and lack of personal desires (as to be noted later in Analects 14.12). He was well-suited to serve as a respected advisor in a powerful aristocratic household – a role that emphasized moral character, dignity, and counsel rather than day-to-day administration.
- However, Teng and Xue were small states with limited resources and complex governance challenges. Their chief ministers needed practical administrative skills, crisis management ability, and diplomatic agility. Though morally upright, Meng Gongchuo lacked the hands-on competence required for such demanding posts – hence, “he would not be suited.”
Confucius thus emphasizes that while virtue is essential, effective governance also demands specific capabilities; different offices require different talents. One should not appoint someone to high responsibility solely based on moral reputation without considering functional fit. This reveals the Confucian wisdom of “knowing people and assigning them appropriately” and “employing people according to their aptitudes”. It also implies a higher ideal: the truly exemplary statesman must combine both virtue (de) and competence.
Further Reading
Shows Confucius evaluating disciples’ suitability for office based on their distinct traits (resoluteness, perceptiveness) – exactly the kind of differentiated assessment applied to Meng Gongchuo.
子曰：「孟公綽，為趙魏老則優，不可以為滕薛大夫。」
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