Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Dao De Jing: chapter 17


The Dao De Jing is one of the world's classics. It is also the foundational text of philosophical Daoism. If you click on the title of this post, you'll be directed to an online version of this timeless work.

17. Rulers

The best rulers are scarcely known by their subjects;
The next best are loved and praised;
The next are feared;
The next despised:
They have no faith in their people,
And their people become unfaithful to them.

When the best rulers achieve their purpose
Their subjects claim the achievement as their own.

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