The seven ways for observing people by Zhuge Liang (Translation) Zhuge Liang (181–234) was a chancellor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He is often recognised as the greatest and most accomplished strategist of his era. <Wikipedia, Zhuge Liang> As a great and brilliant chancellor, Zhuge Liang was well-known for recognizing and promoting person with ability. I am going to translate his seven says of observing people: 夫人之性，莫難察焉，善惡既殊，情貌不一。 Character of man is hard to observe, 有溫良而為詐者；有外恭而內欺者； There are tame people cheating in the dark; there are people who looked polite but dishonest inward; 有外勇而內怯者；有盡力而不忠者。 there are people who looked strong but timid; there are diligent people betraying their lord. 然知人之道有七焉： Yet there are seven ways to know people: 一曰：問之以是非，而觀其誌。 First, ask them philosophic dilemmatic problem to see their values. 二曰：窮之以詞辯，而觀其變。 Second, make them speechless through argument to see their response. 三曰：咨之以計謀，而觀其識。 Third, discuss your strategy with them to see their knowledge. 四曰，告之以禍難，而觀其勇。 Fourth, tell them there is a disaster coming to see their courage. 五曰：醉之以酒，而觀其性。 Fifth, fuddle them with wine to see their nature. 六曰：臨之以利，而觀其廉。 Sixth, give them benefit to see they are honest or not. 七曰：期之以事，而觀其信。 Seventh, confide a job to them to see their credit. Postscript: It is not a easy job to translate Classical Chinese to English literally, because there must have distortion of rhythm and connotation. Please forgive my poor vocabulary. If you wish, you may help me to make it better and more elegant. Thank you.