Assess character through behavior, not through what people say about themselves
The Arthashastra is specific about how a ruler should evaluate the ministers and officials around him: watch what they do when they believe no one of consequence is watching. Kautilya describes a system of testing officials through situations that reveal their actual loyalties and appetites, not their stated ones. The underlying logic is straightforward, people perform competence and goodwill in formal settings. The real information comes from how they handle a small, low-stakes moment when the outcome doesn't seem to matter.
