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Despite the casual tone, this is so much better: He lowers their aspirations and makes them suck in their guts. He shows people how to forget w
by ricardobeat 3y ago
Despite the casual tone, this is so much better:
He lowers their aspirations
and makes them suck in their guts.
He shows people how to forget
what they know and what they want,
so nobody can push them around.
If you think you've got the answers,
he'll mess with your head.
Versus the dystopian authoritarian version on this page:
Thus the governance of the sage:
Empties their hearts
Fills their bellies
Weakens their ambitions
Strengthens their bones
- woopsn 3y agoI think you came away with the wrong idea based on these examples. The messaging of the Tao Te Ching is very much not straightforward, but it's clear that the weakest governors are authoritarians, and the most effective barely intervene at all.