Monday, February 28, 2011

Tao te Ching: 72

When the people do not fear of what is dreadful,
Then what is greatly dreadful will descend upon them.
Do not reduce the living space of their dwellings.
Do not oppress their lives.
It is because you do not oppress them that they are not oppressed.
Therefore the sages knows himself but does not show himself.
He loves himself but does not exalt himself.
Therefore he rejects one but not the other.
When the people do not notice the small wrongs, or ignore them, then the great wrongs sneak up upon them. Do not take away from the people. Do not make their lives more difficult. Practice the profound and secret virtue.

Really, it reminds me of Pastor Martin Niemoller's poem "First They Came":

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me -- and there was no one left to speak for me.

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