Do Not Split Hairs in Search of Tiny Flaws

“Do not split hairs in search of tiny flaws; do not wash away dirt merely to inspect marks that are hard to see.” The line comes from the “Cardinal Tenets” chapter of the Han Feizi. A “flaw” here is a minor defect; the images describe deliberately extending scrutiny until some fault can be found.

The surrounding passage concerns judging weight and merit by established standards rather than expanding or contracting them according to personal preference. It is therefore more than advice to be tolerant: it rejects scrutiny designed to manufacture grounds for blame. The restrained lesson today is that serious problems should certainly be investigated, but scrutiny should be proportionate to the risk. “Seeing the larger picture” must not become an excuse for concealing genuine defects.

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