Wen Tzu - Verse 74, Part III

from Verse Seventy-Four

If you are in a superior position, you help the weak; if you are in a subordinate position, you maintain control over yourself. Don't indulge in your whims when you are successful, and don't get excitable when you are in straits. Follow reason uniformly, without bending it subjectively. This is called justice.

~ Wen-tzu: Understanding the Mysteries ~

Again, Lao Tzu is stressing the middle path, the one that stays away from extremes. Just like the previous post, regardless of how much of a success or a failure a person is, there will be others who are more successful or more of a failure.

For me, the key part of this passage is the second to the last line. Justice breathes within everyone is treated with the same amount of respect. When we start making distinctions, justice flies out the door.

This post is part of a series. For an introduction, go here.