Posted by Nick on July 14, 1999 at 03:18:52:
In Reply to: The Connatic as the perfect Taoist posted by Martin G. on July 13, 1999 at 15:37:07:
: slashusr (Robert R.) left a really good posting, but on the Vance chat-room site, rather than here, which I think is a pity.
: Therefore I'm reproducing it here, and I hope that he forgives me.
: ""Govern the State by being straightforward; wage war by being crafty; but win the empire by not being meddlesome...Hence the sage says, I take no action and the people are transformed of themselves..." (Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching, Book II, ch. LVII, 31-133)
: There's more...comments anyone? "
A British colonial administrator arriving to rebuild a colony in 1945, said of its growth:
"I did very little. All I did was try to prevent some of the things that might undo it."
(I take no action and the people are transformed of themselves..." )
He was John Cowperthwaite, the colony was Hong Kong. A practical demonstration of the ancient chinese truth, I believe.