Wen Tzu - Verse 75

from Verse Seventy-Five

In a society of perfect virtue, merchants make their markets convenient, farmers enjoy their fields, officials are secure in their jobs, independent scholars practice their ways, and people in general enjoy their work. Thus wind and rain are not destructive, plants and trees do not die off early, and the celestial design is made manifest.

When a society degenerates, taxes are immoderate and executions never cease; critics are punished and virtuous men are killed. Thus mountains crumble, rivers dry up, insects wiggle without rest, the fields have no plants.

~ Wen-tzu: Understanding the Mysteries ~

It still amazes me that these words were written thousands of years ago!! It seems that the trials and tribulations of humanity haven't changed as much as we often think.

If you look at the current state of your country or the world itself, which of the two paragraphs above offers the most apt description?

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