34 pages • 1 hour read
Lao TzuTao Te Ching
Nonfiction | Book | AdultA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Themes
The Namelessness and Ineffability of the Way
The book starts with the observation that the way, or tao, is nameless. The way has existed forever and has created everything on earth, but it cannot be named or even fully described. Instead, building on the contradictions that help define many things in the Tao Te Ching, the way is described by what it is not. It cannot be something in particular, as it is everything. The Tao Te Ching is an attempt to approach an understanding of this mysterious, dim force that controls all but that recedes when we approach it. The author asks us to accept its existence in the show of opposites and ironies that are often observed on earth. When something appears powerful, it is often rendered weak. When someone uses force, that person often heads for a fall. Therefore, because the way seems like nothing, it is everything and all-encompassing.
The Ruler as a Do-Nothing and Selfless
The Tao Te Ching discusses in many books the qualities of a good leader, or sage. The good leader is the one who does not think of himself or herself. Lao Tzu writes that only by putting oneself last can one be first. Only by wanting nothing for oneself is one able to recognize the tao of ruling. The true leader is also someone who tries to do nothing. In so doing (or not doing), the sage can lead effectively.
This portrait of leadership runs contrary to the traditional idea of leadership. The Taoist sage is one who is selfless and passive. In this way, the sage encourages selflessness and virtue among his or her people. The good ruler is also a pacifist who does not resort to engaging in war. The text is clear that striking first in warfare is not desirable. Instead, the wise leader strikes second, and waits until he or she can mount a good defense. The Tao Te Ching believes that only by living in accordance with the way and being submissive can the leader create order and public virtue.
Weakness and Submissiveness
The Tao Te Ching was written during a turbulent time in China’s history. Lao Tzu believes that the best way to survive is to keep a low profile and to do little more than just endure. The Tao Te Ching advises people not to try too hard; instead, do just enough. Don’t try to amass too many goods or work too hard. Such striving will only lead to failure.
Instead, pursuing the path of least resistance will enable people to survive because they will never ascend to any heights and therefore cannot plummet from there. To flow like water, and to seek the path of least resistance, are the ways to follow the tao. The Tao Te Ching presents a philosophy of life that operates on the idea that life is like a slide. If one gets high enough, a fall is sure to follow. If one climbs up the slide, one can then only go down. The author remarks that it is often at one’s greatest height that one is poised for a fall. The way to avoid this type of precipitous fall is to avoid heights and the climb up entirely. Stay low and keep your life simple, and you will have less distance to fall.
