Six Secret Teachings, Dragon Teaching — Selecting Generals六韜 選將
1Fifteen kinds whose outside differs from the inside, and eight proofs for knowing a man
武王問太公曰：「王者舉兵，欲簡練英雄，知士之高下，為之奈何？」太公曰：「夫士外貌不與中情相應者十五：有嚴而不肖者，有溫良而為盜者，有貌恭敬而心慢者，有外廉謹而內無至誠者，有精精而無情者，有湛湛而無誠者，有好謀而不決者，有如果敢而不能者，有悾悾而不信者，有恍恍惚惚而反忠實者，有詭激而有功效者，有外勇而內怯者，有肅肅而反易人者，有嗃嗃而反靜愨者，有勢虛形劣而外出無所不至無所不遂者。天下所賤，聖人所貴；凡人莫知，非有大明不見其際，此士之外貌不與中情相應者也。」武王曰：「何以知之？」太公曰：「知之有八徵：一曰問之以言，以觀其辭；二曰窮之以辭，以觀其變；三曰與之間謀，以觀其誠；四曰明白顯問，以觀其德；五曰使之以財，以觀其廉；六曰試之以色，以觀其貞；七曰告之以難，以觀其勇；八曰醉之以酒，以觀其態。八徵皆備，則賢不肖別矣。」
King Wu asked Taigong, "A king raises an army and wishes to sort out and drill his heroes and to know which of his gentlemen stand high and which low. How is this done?" Taigong said, "Among gentlemen there are fifteen whose outward looks do not answer to what is within. There is the man who seems stern and is worthless. There is the man who seems mild and good and is a robber. There is the man whose face is respectful and whose heart is insolent. There is the man who is clean and careful without and has no true sincerity within. There is the man who seems keen and has no feeling. There is the man who seems deep and has no sincerity. There is the man who is fond of planning and cannot decide. There is the man who seems bold and daring and is not able. There is the man who seems earnest and is not to be trusted. There is the man who seems vague and muddled and is loyal and solid after all. There is the man who is odd and violent and yet gets results. There is the man who is brave without and timid within. There is the man who seems grave and yet makes light of others. There is the man who seems harsh and is quiet and honest after all. And there is the man whose standing is empty and whose looks are poor, yet who goes abroad and there is nowhere he does not reach and nothing he does not bring about. What all under Heaven holds cheap, the sage holds dear. Ordinary men do not know them, and without a great clearness of sight one cannot see the line between. These are the gentlemen whose outward looks do not answer to what is within." King Wu said, "How are they to be known?" Taigong said, "There are eight proofs for knowing them. First, question him with words and watch how he speaks. Second, press him with words until he is at a loss and watch how he changes. Third, set a spy beside him and watch his sincerity. Fourth, ask him plainly and openly and watch his virtue. Fifth, put him in charge of money and watch his honesty. Sixth, try him with women and watch his uprightness. Seventh, tell him of hardship and watch his courage. Eighth, make him drunk with wine and watch his bearing. When all eight proofs are complete, the worthy and the worthless are told apart."
Interlinear notes 1
三曰與之間謀，以觀其誠
Some read jianmou (間謀) as "to share a hidden plan," giving "entrust him with a secret plan and watch whether it leaks." — translator