Do Not Demand Completeness from One Person

Do Not Demand Completeness from One Person

“Do not demand completeness from one person” comes from the Wei Zi chapter of The Analects. It closes a passage in which the Duke of Zhou advises the Duke of Lu about relations, senior ministers and long-serving officials. The setting is the judgement and treatment of people, not a general appeal to lower every standard. To “demand completeness” is to expect one person to possess every virtue and capacity without deficiency.

The sentence asks us to distinguish the standards essential to a role from our extra wish for an all-purpose person. Recognising that ability has limits does not excuse neglect of duty. It means not loading every role, strength and answer onto the same individual.

https://ctext.org/analects/wei-zi


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