--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A ruler of men faces two possible…" description: "\"A ruler of men faces two possible misfortunes: if he employs the worthy, the ministers will use worthiness as a pretext to rob their ruler of his power..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ec/han-fei-17920_men_a-ruler-of-men-faces-two-possible-misfor_1258928.jpg" --- # A ruler of men faces two possible misfortunes: if he… ![“A ruler of men faces two possible misfortunes: if he employs the worthy, the ministers will use worthiness as a pretext to rob their ruler of his power, but if he promotes men recklessly, his affairs will be neglected, and he will not prevail.” quote by Han Fei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ec/han-fei-17920_men_a-ruler-of-men-faces-two-possible-misfor_1258928.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ec/han-fei-17920_men_a-ruler-of-men-faces-two-possible-misfor_1258928.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ec/han-fei-17920_men_a-ruler-of-men-faces-two-possible-misfor_1258928.jpg) > “A ruler of men faces two possible misfortunes: if he employs the worthy, the ministers will use worthiness as a pretext to rob their ruler of his power, but if he promotes men recklessly, his affairs will be neglected, and he will not prevail.” [Han Fei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/han-fei/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A ruler must balance merit and caution; hiring the capable can backfire, while reckless promotion leads to neglect. **In simple terms:** Choosing leaders wisely is crucial for stable governance. Key Takeaway Assess competence and loyalty before appointing officials. Themes leadership politics risk management Mood analytical serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - government appointments - corporate hiring - team building - political strategy Key Concepts meritocracy power dynamics governance Questions to Reflect On - How do you evaluate true merit? - What safeguards prevent abuse of power? 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