Recommendation
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Duke Ping, the ruler of Jin, asked his minister, Qi Huangyang, to recommend a candidate for the governorship of Nanyang.
“Xie Hu is the most suitable candidate,” Qi Huangyang suggested without hesitation.
“But isn’t he your opponent?” The duke wondered.
“Your Highness asked me who would be the best candidate to run Nanyang. You did not ask me who my adversary was.”
“True. I’ll appoint Xie Hu.”
Just as Qi Huangyang had expected, Xie Hu did a good job running Nanyang.
Some time later the duke asked Qi Huangyang to recommend a judge for the court.
“Qi Wu will do the job well,” said he without hesitation.
“But he is your son. How can you recommend your own son? What will other people say?”
“Your Highness asked me who would be the most qualified man to sit on the bench. You didn’t ask me whether he was my son.”
“True.”
Qi Wu was duly appointed. He proved to be a fair and hard-working judge and earned public approval.
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Wifely Wisdom
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Affirmative Words
Wise Proverbs
- Business is business.
- 公事公办。
- To appoint people on their merits.
- 任人唯贤。
- To appoint the competent person, even one's own foe or son.
- 外举不避仇，内举不避亲。
Editor Says:
Confucius praised Qi Huangyang for being a man without bias, who recommended people without prejudice and without fear of being accused of nepotism and did not let personal feelings interfere with his consideration.