December 19, 2016 As the Electoral College anoints President-Elect Trump, we turn to The Way of Life by Lao Tzu:
“A leader is best when people barely know that he exists; not so good when people obey and acclaim him; worst when they despise him. ‘Fail to honor people, they fail to honor you.’ But a good leader, who talks little, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will all says, ‘We did this ourselves.'”
“When people lost sight of the way to live came codes of love and honesty. Learning came, charity came, hypocrisy took charge. When differences weakened family ties came benevolent fathers and dutiful sons. And when lands were disrupted and misgoverned came ministers commended as loyal.”
“Rid of formalized wisdom and learning, people would be a hundred times happier. Rid of conventional duty and honor, people would find their families dear. Rid of legalized profiteering, people would have no thieves to fear. These methods of life have failed, all three. Here is the way it seems to me: set people free, as deep in their hearts they would like to be, from private greeds and wanton needs.”
