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"If people usually don't fear death, how can death be used to scare them? If people are made to fear death, and you catch them and kill them when they act oddly, who would dare? There are always executioners. And to kill in the place of an executioner is taking the place of a master carver. Those who take the place of a master carver rarely avoid cutting their hands."
Author
Lao TzuAll Translations
English
"If people usually don't fear death, how can death be used to scare them? If people are made to fear death, and you catch them and kill them when they act oddly, who would dare? There are always executioners. And to kill in the place of an executioner is taking the place of a master carver. Those who take the place of a master carver rarely avoid cutting their hands."