Chapter 19
The Wisdom of Letting Go
19.1. If we could renounce our sageness and discard our wisdom, it
would be better for the people a hundredfold. If we could renounce
our benevolence and discard our righteousness, the people would again
become filial and kindly. If we could renounce our artful
contrivances and discard our (scheming for) gain, there would be no
thieves nor robbers.
Critical Thinking Exercise
Spot the Performance vs. Reality
Think of a situation where someone in your life (boss, parent, friend, politician) talks a lot about being helpful, wise, or good. Write down what they say they value versus what their actions actually accomplish. Then consider: what would happen if they stopped performing this virtue and just focused on practical results?
Consider:
- •Look for the gap between stated intentions and actual outcomes
- •Notice whether their 'help' makes people more or less capable
- •Consider how their need to appear virtuous might be driving their behavior
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when your own good intentions backfired. What were you really trying to accomplish - solving the problem or managing how you felt about the problem? How might you approach it differently now?
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