Lao-Tzu

Lao-tzu, which means the old or venerable wise man, is a mysterious character if we consider the uncertainties concerning his real existence, the period of his life, the virtues which the mystical Taoists endowed him with. Lao-tzu is attributed with the writing of the Tao-Te Ching, (tao-meaning the way of all life, te-meaning the fit use of life by men, and ching-meaning text or classic). Various versus from the Tao-Te Ching, were translated into the English language and are now appreciated by many of his readers. Among many examples is the book A World of Ideas, by Lee A. Jacobus, whom illustrates the great philosopher Lao-Tzu’s thoughts and ideas.

Lao-tzu greatly believed in good government, being a passive leader, not feeling superior to the people, moral behavior, and looking beyond material things. One verse that emphasizes how Lao-tzu feels is verse 80, which says the following:

If a country is governed wisely,

its inhabitants will be content.

They enjoy the labor of their hands and don’t waste

time inventing labor-saving machines.

Since they dearly love their homes, they aren’t

interested in travel.

There may be a few wagons and boats, but these

don’t go anywhere.

There may be an arsenal of weapons, but nobody

ever uses them.

People enjoy their food, take pleasure in being with their

families , spend weekends working in their gardens,

delight in the doings of the neighborhood.

And even though the next country is so close that people can hear its roosters crowing and its dogs barking, they are content to die of old age without ever having gone to see it.

This verse encourages being a knowledgeable leader so the people can feel comfortable and pleased. It mentions that when people are happy they don’t mind daily labor even without the use of machinery. This verse implies that with a good government people are satisfied with the land they live in and consequently don’t move away, even if they know how pleasant the country next door is. Regardless of the collection of powerful weapons there are, they don’t use them because they much rather enjoy and spend time everyday beside their loved ones instead of committing acts of violence.

What Lao-tzu is trying to convey through this verse is very