A government can be compared to our lungs. Our lungs are best when we don't realize they are helping us breathe. It is when we are constantly aware of our lungs that we know they have come down with an illness.
Interpretation
Good governance is often unnoticed, just like our lungs; problems arise only when it becomes problematic.
In this quote, Laozi draws a comparison between government and lungs to emphasize the idea that the best governance is often invisible and functions smoothly without drawing attention to itself. Just as we take our lungs for granted while they support our breathing, a well-functioning government operates quietly in the background, serving its citizens effectively. However, when issues arise, just like when we become overly aware of our lungs due to illness, it signals failures in the system that require our attention.
In practice
In a speech about effective governance, one could say, 'As Laozi reminds us, a government is like our lungs - best when we are not even aware of its presence.'
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