Tao Te Ching: Chapter #17

17
When the Master governs, the people
are hardly aware that he exists.

How does a Master govern? The way he/she lives his/her life, by allowing things to happen. 

Next best is a leader who is loved.
Next, one who is feared.
The worst is one who is despised.

If someone wants to be loved will focus on the things he/she need to do to be loved, and that's how he/she is distracted from how things are evolving.
Next, the leader who is feared probably rules by oppression. You can even claim, and that is something that we heard constantly on TV, that we prefer a tough enforcement of the laws, which is better than chaos. Yes, you can have your order, but what is the cost, and above all, how long will it last?
In the end, a leader who is despised is someone who, simply by their presence, creates hatred, rebellion, and movement with the only aim to bring down the government (I'm sure that you checked the news at least once in the past years, or even today).

If you don't trust the people,
you make them untrustworthy.

It's a self-fulfilling prophecy. Treats someone like he/she is a criminal, or incapable, and he/she will start acting in a way that confirms what you said.

The Master doesn't talk, he acts.
When his work is done,
the people say, "Amazing: we did it, all by ourselves!" 

The master focus is based on action, not on talking about doing things. And as follows:
  • Controlling Leader: they told you exactly what you had to do, and you did it, so the success is theirs. 
  • The Master: worked to create an environment where the best efforts naturally succeeded. 


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