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The Appropriate Perspective

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"If the people do not fear authority, then authority will expand. Do not disrespect their position; do not reject their lives. Since indeed they are not rejected, they do not reject."

"Therefore, enlightened people know themselves, but do not display themselves. They love themselves but do not treasure themselves."

"Hence they discard one and receive the other."

Lao Tzu encourages enlightened leaders to minimise the distance between their sense of their own position and the position of those they lead. In this way, by identifying with the people the leader can better understand the psychological needs of the people. Thus their decisions are more aligned with those needs.

Lao Tzu believed that the less people fear or focus upon the outward embodiment of authority, the more effective that authority becomes. To cultivate and preserve the appropriate attitude, leaders should identify closely with those whom they lead.

When a leader does not exhibit and enhance their high positio n, they will discover self-knowledge. Moreover, by discarding any sense of self-importance they may have, they will find self-love and inner-peace. (72)

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