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Without stirring abroad One can know the whole world; Without looking out the window One can see the way of heaven. The further one goes The
by morelisp 6y ago
Without stirring abroad
One can know the whole world;
Without looking out the window
One can see the way of heaven.
The further one goes
The less one knows.
Therefore the sage knows without having to stir,
Identifies without having to see,
Accomplishes without having to act.
(Tao Te Ching, chapter 47, D.C. Lau translation.)
- H8crilA 6y agoThis is so on point! In case anyone thinks this is about "an old grandpa that sits on his porch and just enjoys life" or something like that - it's not. The last three lines are exactly what good leadership is.
- morelisp 6y agoI think such a man on his porch would have a wonderfully free and ready mind. Ursula Le Guin's rendition is maybe more impactful to the modern reader: So the wise soul doesn't go, but knows; doesn't look, but sees; doesn't do, but gets it done.
- H8crilA 6y agoYes. Let me correct: it's not only about that grandpa.