Daodejing Summary

Daodejing by Lao Tzu is the classical Chinese philosophy literature which presented a way of life that intended to restore the harmony and tranquility to a kingdom racked by widespread disorders. This way of thinking was critical of the uncontrolled careless, and dangerousness for rulers to seeking their self and was hateful of social activism based on the type of abstract moralism and mechanical propriety behavior of Confucian ethics.
In chapter 72 of Daodejing, Lao Tzu expresses his views on governing the country by pointing out that a ruler should execute his powers mildly. Based on Legge's translation, this chapter's title is Loving One's Self. The two main ideas of Lao Tzu in this chapter are that (1) compassion and careful concern in accordance with Daoism to delight everyone with such leadership the country would process as it should, and (2) a ruler who ignores the needs and sentiments of his subjects may be overthrown.

"When the people do not hold the awesome in awe, awful events occur."
In Legge's translation, this first sentence means that "when the people do not fear what they ought to fear, that which is their great dread will come on them" (YellowBridge Chinese Language & Culture, www.yellowbridge.com/onlinelit/daodejing72.php).

"Do not narrow their living space nor crush their means of livelihood. Because you do not crush them, they will not view you as a crushing burden."
The second part in Legge's translation means that "let them not thoughtlessly indulge themselves in their ordinary life; let them not act as if weary of what that life depends on. It is by avoiding such indulgence that such weariness does not arise" (YellowBridge Chinese Language & Culture, www.yellowbridge.com/onlinelit/daodejing72.php).
"Therefore the sage knows himself but does not display himself, cherishes himself but does not honor himself.
Thus he discards the one and takes the

other."
The last part is translated to "therefore the sage knows (these things) of himself, but does not parade (his knowledge); loves, but does not (appear to set a) value on, himself. And thus he puts the latter alternative away and makes choice of the former" (YellowBridge Chinese Language & Culture, www.yellowbridge.com/onlinelit/daodejing72.php). The sage trusts his own ability and intelligence but still remains humble and modest which a ruler should also be. This is an ideal approach to serve Heaven and Tao, however, it must be done by basically serving the people.