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Friday Filosophy v.11.04.2022

Friday Filosophy v.11.04.2022

Friday Filosophy v.11.04.2022 brings quotes and words of wisdom from the Chinese philosopher and poet, Lao Tzu.

Lao Tzu was an ancient Chinese philosopher and poet, well-known for penning the book Tao Te Ching. He was the founder of philosophy of Taoism, a religious and ethical custom of ancient China. He is largely respected as a religious deity in various traditional Chinese religious schools of thought. He is also believed by some to be an older contemporary of the famous philosopher Confucius.

Lao Tzu’s journey began as he set foot towards the western border of China, currently Tibet. He was saddened by what he saw around him: men being diverted away from nature and the goodness it brings. A guard he met on the border asked Lao to write down his teachings as he went. This is when he wrote the famous Tao Te Ching, a 5,000-character account of his thoughts and philosophical ideas.

Like various ancient Chinese philosophers, Lao Tzu made use of rhyme and rhythm, paradoxes and interesting analogies to get his point across in Tao Te Ching. In reality, the entire book can be considered as one great analogy.

The ‘Tao Te Ching’, literally meaning ‘The Way and Its Power’ presents the idea of ‘Tao’ as being the end all and be all of existence. It is extremely powerful, yet down to earth. It is the source of all being in the world. The book intends to guide people on how to return to the laws and ways of nature to maintain the balance of the Tao.

Tzu is also the father of the Taoist philosophy. Taoism, along with Buddhism and Confucianism, is the pillar of ancient Chinese thought. It is not only a customary philosophy, but it has also taken the shape of a properly organized religion. Though the two elements of religion and philosophy are separate, they are profoundly connected. Lao Tzu’s teachings have encompassed the depths of both.

Taoism focuses on leading life according to ‘Tao’ or ‘the path’. It encapsulates moral, ethical and religious Chinese customs. Tao is a concept not exclusive to Taoism; it is also found in various other Chinese philosophies. In Taoism however, it plays a major role. As per Taoism, Tao is deep and overwhelming; it is the all-encompassing. It is both the cause and the effect of every existing thing in the world.

Lao Tzu’s philosophy was a simple one. He was against putting effort and striving, as he thought struggle is not only futile but also hinders productivity. In his theory of ‘wu-wei’, he advises to simply do nothing. By this he means not to go against the forces of nature, wait for the gush of events nature brings to you and dive right in. He advised not to struggle to change the natural order of things, but to bring spontaneity to one’s actions as one holds on to the nature’s way of life. Followers of Taoism believe that striving for nothing will never lead them to failure. The one who has never failed is always successful, thus becoming powerful.

By understanding this principle, Taoist debates against Confucianism and its endeavors at domination and standardization of all aspects of life, and strives for a lone, deep meditation among nature. Taoists believed that through contemplation, nature will grant them the keys unlocking the powers of the universe. The logic of ‘doing nothing and achieving everything’ reached the rulers and affected the way the kings treated the masses. Thus, in a subtle way, Taoism took shape of a political philosophy.

Lao Tzu’s works have continued to influence individuals and anti-authoritarian campaigns around the world. Belonging to the sixth century, Lao Tzu, a title given to the great philosopher meaning ‘Old Teacher’, taught the world the importance of the ways of nature and how embracing the principle of doing nothing can help achieve everything.

  • A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.
  • Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.
  • Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them – that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.
  • To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.
  • Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.
  • Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.
  • Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.
  • When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everybody will respect you.
  • When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.
  • He who knows, does not speak. He who speaks, does not know.
  • Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is Enlightenment.
  • I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures.
  • Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend. Non-being is the greatest joy.
  • In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don’t try to control. In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present.
  • At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want.

The Time is Now

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Friday Filosophy #2016-15

One of the many misunderstandings that people have about management is that they equate it to leadership. You manage processes, but you lead people.  For Friday Filosophy #2016-15, some thoughts about leadership, from leaders.

 

Don’t follow the crowd, let the crowd follow you.

Margaret Thatcher.

 

The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets people to do the greatest things.

Ronald Reagan

 

To add value to others, one must first value others.

Before you can be of any value to anyone else you must be of value to yourself.

R.J. Slee

 

The task of the leader is to get their people from where they are to where they have not been.

Henry Kissinger

 

Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you help them become what they are capable of being.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

 

There are no office hours for leaders.

Cardinal J. Gibbons

 

When people talk, listen completely.

Ernest Hemingway

 

Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.

Peter Drucker

 

A leader is best when people barely know he exists. When his work is don’t, his aim fulfilled, they will say we did it ourselves.

Lao Tzu

 

The time is now.

Friday Filosophy #2015-33

We continue with a theme of leadership this week in our Friday Filosophy #2015-33.

A good leader can’t get too far ahead of his followers.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

 

Constant dripping hollows out a stone.

Lucretius

 

He who conquers others is strong. He who conquers himself is mighty.

Lao Tzu

 

The time is now.

Friday Filosophy #2015-31

In Friday Filosophy #2015-31 we are taking a look at leadership.

The world has changed rapidly over the past three decades and continues to change rapidly. If anything it is changing even more rapidly than it appears to be. However, there are some constants. From the Chairman at VW to the leader of the House of Representatives, we are seeing in front of us the challenges and difficulties in the position of leadership. Without making too much of these two examples you can see the challenges of CEOs in a number of different areas and Industries. Here are some quotes to consider from business and political leaders over the past half century.

I hope you enjoy them.

 

The key to successful leadership is influence, not authority.

Ken Blanchard

 

Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.

Jack Welsh

 

Are YOU growing yourself? Do you continue to learn? Do you read business books?

 

Management is about arranging and telling. Leadership is about nurturing and enhancing.

Tom Peters

 

Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.

Winston Churchill

 

Leadership is not about titles, positions or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another.

John C. Maxwell

 

Don’t follow the crowd, let the crowd follow you.

Margaret Thatcher

 

A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.

Lao Tzu

 

Isn’t that rather different than “You didn’t build that?”

 

I never dreamed about success. I worked for it.

Estee Lauder

 

We are not interested in the possibilities of defeat; they do not exist.

Queen Victoria

 

My job is not to be easy on people. My job is to takes these great people we have and to push them and make them even better.

Steve Jobs

 

There are two kinds of stones, as everyone knows. One of which rolls.

Amelia Earhart

 

I was never the smartest guy in the room. From the first person I hired, I was never the smartest guy in the room. And that’s a big deal. And if you’re going to be a leader – if you’re the leader and the smartest guy in the world – in the room, you’ve got real problems.

Jack Welsh

 

It is delusional to consider yourself the answer to all things.

Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.

John F Kennedy

 

Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.

Peter Drucker

 

A leader is a dealer in hope.

Napoleon Bonaparte

 

Too many companies believe people are interchangeable. Truly gifted people never are. They have unique talents. Such people cannot be forced into roles they are not suited for, nor should they be. Effective leaders allow great people to do the work they were born to do.

Warren Bennis

 

Contrary to popular opinion, leadership is not a reserved position for a reserved group of people who were elected or appointed, ordained or enthroned. Leadership is self-made, self-retained, self-inculcated and then exposed through a faithful, sincere, and exemplary life.

Israelmore Avivor

 

Leadership is the art of giving people a platform for spreading ideas that work.

Seth Godin

 

Let me close with some quotes from Charles Handy. Influential to the business world like Peter Drucker was in the US, but from his perch in Great Britain.

 

  1. The moment will arrive when you are comfortable with who you are, and what you are – bald or old or fat or poor, successful or struggling – when you don’t feel the need to apologize for anything or to deny anything. To be comfortable in your own skin is the beginning of strength.
  2. We cannot wait for great visions from great people, for they are in short supply. It is up to us to light our own small fires in the darkness.
  3. Change is only another word for growth, another synonym for learning.
  4. Instead of a national curriculum for education, what is really needed is an individual curriculum for every child.
  5. Creativity needs a bit of untidiness. Make everything too neat and there is no room for experiment.

 

The time is now.

Friday Filosophy #2015-10

We are either quite late, or very early for Friday Filosophy.  This is our 10th installment for 2015.

 

Failures do what is tension relieving, while winners do what is goal achieving.

Dennis Waitley

 

Faith is reason grown courageous.

Sherwood Eddy

 

When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.

Lao Tzu

 

The time is now.

Friday Filosophy #2014-48

Reliving Friday on Monday!

 

A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.

Francis Bacon

 

When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece.

John Ruskin

 

To lead, one must follow.

Lao Tzu

 

The time is now…

Friday Filosophy #2014-38

Fall down seven times, get up eight.

Japanese Proverb

 

From caring comes courage.

Lao Tzu

 

Dreams are the touchstones of our character.

Henry David Thoreau

 

Seven Behaviors That Really Successful People Have Mastered

  1. Positive Thinking
  2. Having Clear End Goals
  3. Taking Calculated Risks
  4. Learning From Other Successful People
  5. Building Real Relationships
  6. Managing Time Efficiently
  7. Never Stop Learning

The time is now…