--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: By looking at a person's features…" description: "\"By looking at a person's features, clothing, and speech, even Confucius would not be able to say what sort of a person he is. But by testing him in a p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/569/han-fei-17920_able_by-looking-at-a-person-s-features-clothi_2967185.jpg" --- # By looking at a person's features, clothing, and speech… ![“By looking at a person's features, clothing, and speech, even Confucius would not be able to say what sort of a person he is. But by testing him in a position and seeing what he he does, even someone with so-so judgment would be able to know if he is wise or not.” quote by Han Fei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/569/han-fei-17920_able_by-looking-at-a-person-s-features-clothi_2967185.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/569/han-fei-17920_able_by-looking-at-a-person-s-features-clothi_2967185.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/569/han-fei-17920_able_by-looking-at-a-person-s-features-clothi_2967185.jpg) > “By looking at a person's features, clothing, and speech, even Confucius would not be able to say what sort of a person he is. But by testing him in a position and seeing what he he does, even someone with so-so judgment would be able to know if he is wise or not.” [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. External traits are insufficient; actions in context reveal true wisdom. **In simple terms:** Actions, not appearance, show wisdom. Key Takeaway Judge people by deeds, not looks. Themes wisdom judgment action Mood analytical thoughtful Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - leadership selection - job interviews - team projects - legal judgments Key Concepts philosophy ethics Questions to Reflect On - How to assess true capability? - What actions best reveal character? A Different Perspective May overlook hidden talents. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Clothings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clothings/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confucius/) [Confucius Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confucius-able-4548809/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Features](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/features/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Looking Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-person-1280640/) [Person Features](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person-features-2088526/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Position](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/position/) [Seeing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeing/) [Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech/) [Speech Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech-confucius-4548808/) [Testing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/testing/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [“Meanness always shows on people's faces. Sometimes you have to look hard for it. Sometimes it's just a part of a person's features" -Valencia”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-entrada-kelly/meanness-always-shows-on-people-s-faces-sometimes-you-have-to-look/) [Erin Entrada Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-entrada-kelly/) > [“You can read a lot about a person by their features and what they do with them. But, getting to know someone, who they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarryn-fisher/you-can-read-a-lot-about-a-person-by-their-features-and-what-they-do/) [Tarryn Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarryn-fisher/) > [While make-up helps to enhance one's features, too much of it tends to hide a person's features.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-shin-hye/while-make-up-helps-to-enhance-one-s-features-too-much-of-it-tends-to/) [Park Shin-hye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-shin-hye/) > [It's spooky to look at yourself, because you are never quite what you think you are. And you are never as good looking as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/it-s-spooky-to-look-at-yourself-because-you-are-never-quite-what-you/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [If you're still looking for that one person who can change your life, take a look in the mirror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-re-still-looking-for-that-one-person-who-can-change-your-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Girls are always like, 'Oh, you're much better-looking in person than in pictures.' I'm kinda like, 'Er, thank you? I think? As in, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-rock/girls-are-always-like-oh-you-re-much-better-looking-in-person-than-in/) [Kid Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-rock/) > [I'm not Nicole Richie. I'm not like a toothpick, and I never will be. I'm just a regular looking person and that's okay. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-moore/i-m-not-nicole-richie-i-m-not-like-a-toothpick-and-i-never-will-be-i/) [Mandy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-moore/) > [“You never know, just by looking, what a person is hiding.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-morgan/you-never-know-just-by-looking-what-a-person-is-hiding/) [Sarah Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-morgan/) > [If you really think you are a good looking person, you don't have to extend efforts to gain everybody's attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charmain-torralba/if-you-really-think-you-are-a-good-looking-person-you-don-t-have-to/) [Charmain Torralba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charmain-torralba/) > [“He was wearing a gleaming cream-coloured linen suit, and a Panama hat. The weirdest thing about this was that he was not the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-hall/he-was-wearing-a-gleaming-cream-coloured-linen-suit-and-a-panama-hat/) [Alexis Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-hall/) > [“You may not be the smartest, richest or best looking person but you're probably not the dumbest, ugliest or poorest either.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-liano/you-may-not-be-the-smartest-richest-or-best-looking-person-but-you-re/) [Rob Liano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-liano/) > [The audience is directly in front of you, behind you, beside you, above you. They're everywhere. And if that person's not looking at you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruthie-ann-miles/the-audience-is-directly-in-front-of-you-behind-you-beside-you-above/) [Ruthie Ann Miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruthie-ann-miles/) > [“It is not something you can tell by looking at a person, but trust is always being increased or decreased as you interact with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innocent-mwatsikesimbe/it-is-not-something-you-can-tell-by-looking-at-a-person-but-trust-is/) [Innocent Mwatsikesimbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/innocent-mwatsikesimbe/) > [I'm better looking in person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-segel/i-m-better-looking-in-person/) [Jason Segel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-segel/) > [I have never had a bad review off a good-looking person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ashcroft/i-have-never-had-a-bad-review-off-a-good-looking-person/) [Richard Ashcroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ashcroft/) ## More by Han Fei > [In dealing with those who share his bed, the enlightened ruler may enjoy their beauty but should not listen to their special pleas...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/han-fei/in-dealing-with-those-who-share-his-bed-the-enlightened-ruler-may/) [Han Fei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/han-fei/) > [The way is the beginning of all beings and the measure of right and wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/han-fei/the-way-is-the-beginning-of-all-beings-and-the-measure-of-right-and/) [Han Fei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/han-fei/) > [The Way is the beginning of the ten thousand things and the guiding thread of truth and falsity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/han-fei/the-way-is-the-beginning-of-the-ten-thousand-things-and-the-guiding/) [Han Fei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/han-fei/) > [The intelligent ruler makes the law select men and makes no arbitrary appointment himself; he makes the law measure merits and makes no arbitrary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/han-fei/the-intelligent-ruler-makes-the-law-select-men-and-makes-no-arbitrary/) [Han Fei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/han-fei/) > [“Past and Present have different customs; new and old adopt different measures. To try to use the ways of a generous and lenient government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/han-fei/past-and-present-have-different-customs-new-and-old-adopt-different/) [Han Fei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/han-fei/) > [A filial son to his father can be a traitorous subject to his ruler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/han-fei/a-filial-son-to-his-father-can-be-a-traitorous-subject-to-his-ruler/) [Han Fei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/han-fei/) > [People at present think that five sons are not too many and each son has five sons also, and before the death of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/han-fei/people-at-present-think-that-five-sons-are-not-too-many-and-each-son/) [Han Fei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/han-fei/) > [He who claims to be sure of something for which there is no evidence is a fool, and he who acts on the basis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/han-fei/he-who-claims-to-be-sure-of-something-for-which-there-is-no-evidence/) [Han Fei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/han-fei/) > [The intelligent ruler does not value people who are of themselves good without rewards and punishments. Why is that? The laws of the state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/han-fei/the-intelligent-ruler-does-not-value-people-who-are-of-themselves/) [Han Fei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/han-fei/) > [Superior and inferior wage one hundred battles a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/han-fei/superior-and-inferior-wage-one-hundred-battles-a-day/) [Han Fei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/han-fei/) > [The people in the well-ordered ages of the past upheld the public law and abandoned private strategies; they focused their intentions and unified their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/han-fei/the-people-in-the-well-ordered-ages-of-the-past-upheld-the-public-law/) [Han Fei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/han-fei/) > [The ruler who possesses methods of government does not follow the good that happens by chance but practices according to necessary principles. Law, methods,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/han-fei/the-ruler-who-possesses-methods-of-government-does-not-follow-the/) [Han Fei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/han-fei/) > [A wise ruler, when he makes his laws, is bound to find himself in conflict with the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/han-fei/a-wise-ruler-when-he-makes-his-laws-is-bound-to-find-himself-in/) [Han Fei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/han-fei/) > [The severe household has no fierce slaves, but it is the affectionate mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/han-fei/the-severe-household-has-no-fierce-slaves-but-it-is-the-affectionate/) [Han Fei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/han-fei/) > [A ruler of men faces two possible misfortunes: if he employs the worthy, the ministers will use worthiness as a pretext to rob their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/han-fei/a-ruler-of-men-faces-two-possible-misfortunes-if-he-employs-the/) [Han Fei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/han-fei/) [Explore all 36 Han Fei quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/han-fei/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) [Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/) > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) [Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "By looking at a person's features, clothing, and speech, even Confucius would not be able to say what sort of a person he is. 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