Huainanzi - Entry 57

Trey Smith

Without fairness, there is no way to make sound judgments.
~ a passage from The Book of Leadership and Strategy by Thomas Cleary ~

This takes us back to a point that Lao Tzu harps on in the Tao Te Ching: impartiality. When we are partial to this or that, we grant greater leeway and/or the favored is provided the benefit of the doubt. Those things or people not favored are granted little or no leeway and rarely are given the benefit of the doubt.

In a manner of speaking, it's a stacked deck! One thing, person, group or idea is given the freedom to mess up from time to time, while anything or anyone that does not enjoy favored status is given the shortest of leashes.

It is only when we can learn to be more impartial (dispassionate) that we can be truly fair. It is only when we can view the world as it is -- not how we want it to be -- that we can make the soundest of judgments.

To read the introduction to this ongoing series, go here.