The Second Book of the Tao by Stephen Mitchell

Author:Stephen Mitchell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Group US

The capital of Lu must have been seriously landlocked if this seabird (an albatross perhaps) seemed so exotic. The bird was a sensible creature, and the last thing it wanted was celebrity. The marquis, a famous epicure and an obtusely empathetic fellow, proceeded to kill it with kindness. He chose the best of everything, but the bird was not impressed by the ancient Chinese equivalents of a 1947 Cheval Blanc, a three-star Michelin meal, and the Goldberg Variations. It died pining for its freedom and a couple of fresh fish.

The marquis was not the only person in history who, by acting out the Golden Rule, became the golden fool. Was he repentant afterward? Did he start buttonholing wedding guests and holding them with his glittering eye? In any case, the extravagance of his selfishness removes him from history and inserts him into parable. Any child can tell you that hay is for horses, milk is for cats, and fish is for albatrosses, and that we should let wild animals live any way they choose to. Love your neighbor as yourself: leave him alone.

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