Confucius on the character of leaders: from Book 8 of The Analects

The Master said, If a man has gifts as wonderful as those of the Duke of Chou, yet is arrogant and mean, all the rest is of no account.

translated by Arthur Waley

7 thoughts on “Confucius on the character of leaders: from Book 8 of The Analects

  1. I agree wholeheartedly. Leadership is about cultivating rapport and trust. I was watching a film about a well known modern day “freedom fighter”. His troops turned on him and set him up for a takedown because he had no filter and takes what he wants without asking. In other words, no boundaries and no respect for others. This was a person who said that if people have to die after helping him out, then so be it. His team saw the dangers of giving him unlimited power and conspired to take it from him. If only he had loved them a little bit. x

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