Zixia said, “A gentleman must first gain the trust of the people before he can employ them in labor; if he has not gained their trust, they will think he is oppressing them. A gentleman must first gain the trust of the ruler before he can remonstrate with him; if he has not gained his trust, the ruler will think he is slandering him.”
Note
This passage profoundly reveals the core premise of Confucianism in political management and interpersonal communication – “Trust” – reflecting extremely high political wisdom and empathy:
- Trust is the Cornerstone of Governance and Communication:
Whether it is “employing the people” (downward management) or “remonstrating with the ruler” (upward communication), Zixia emphasizes that “trust” comes first. Decrees without the foundation of trust will be seen as tyranny; remonstrance without the foundation of trust will be seen as an attack. This shows that the implementation of morality and systems must be built upon deep emotional and trust bonds. - Empathy Through Perspective-Taking:
Zixia accurately analyzes the psychological defense mechanisms of the people and the ruler when trust has not been established. The people fear being exploited, and the ruler fears being denied. A gentleman must understand this psychology and cannot push forward forcefully under the excuse of “I am doing this for your own good” or “This is official business.” Instead, he should first win the recognition of the other party through his own sincerity and virtue. - Opposing Mechanical Bureaucracy:
This passage is a critique of inhumane mechanical management. A true gentleman focuses on “being a good person” before “doing things.” Only when the other party feels your goodwill and loyalty will your actions be endowed with legitimate meaning.
The core of this thought lies in “taking trust as the foundation” and “empathy.” It teaches people that when exercising power or expressing opinions, they must examine the relational foundation between both parties. True political wisdom lies not in clever means, but in whether one can build unbreakable trust through sincerity.
Further Reading
Zigong asked about government. The Master said, “Sufficient food, sufficient military equipment, and the confidence of the people.” … “Since ancient times, all men must die, but without the confidence of the people, the state cannot stand.”
— The Analects, Chapter 12.7
The Master said, “A gentleman considers righteousness to be of supreme importance. If a gentleman has courage without righteousness, he will create chaos; if a petty man has courage without righteousness, he will become a robber.”
— The Analects, Chapter 17.23
These chapters collectively construct the core system of Confucianism regarding “political legitimacy” and “communication ethics.” Whether it is Confucius’ emphasis that “without the confidence of the people, the state cannot stand,” his repeated injunctions on “employing/remonstrating only after gaining trust,” or his emphasis that actions must be guided by “righteousness,” their core logic is highly consistent: Confucianism strongly opposes coercive power detached from people’s hearts and blind actions lacking empathy. They jointly prove that in Confucian political philosophy, the implementation of power and morality is by no means a cold, mechanical operation, but must be built upon the emotional and moral foundation of “trust.” Without trust, all decrees and remonstrance will lose their legitimacy.
子夏曰：「君子信而後勞其民，未信則以為厲己也；信而後諫，未信則以為謗己也。」
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