Confucius was meticulous in his work and adhered to his principles. On matters of principle, he did not blindly follow his superiors, concealed none of his views, dared to debate with his superiors, and defied incorrect orders and directives. Toward his subordinates, he was magnanimous and opposed being "unyielding when in a superior position." He utilized people's strengths, "did not demand perfection from any one person," and could forgive others' minor faults. He cared about his subordinates; when the stables caught fire, upon returning from court he only asked if anyone was hurt, not about the horses. He valued "the people, food, funerals, and sacrifices." When consulting on the governmental affairs of other states in diplomatic contexts, his attitude was gentle, kind, respectful, frugal, and deferential.
Discover Confucius’s principled approach to holding office—from defying unjust orders to caring for subordinates.