How should a person live their life? How do you live your life? Are you a perfectionist or are you an anti-materialist? You could either be a Confucian or a Taoist. Confucians are perfectionists and Taoist are anti-materialists. Which way would you rather live? This essay will compare and contrast the philosophical differences and similarities of Confucianism and Taoism. Confucians are better than Taoists because of their self- discipline, their perfectionism, and their strict laws.
Confucius believed in self-discipline. He thought that a leader needed to practice self-discipline to set good examples for his followers and to successfully run a strict meritocracy. Confucius said, "When you go out, treat everyone as if you were welcoming a great guest. Employ people as though you were conducting a great sacrifice. Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you. Then neither in your country nor in your family will there be complaints against you." Confucius thought the best way to live your life is to not worry about money. Live loyally and honorably. Set good examples for people and respect the elders. When your parents are older you should take care of them because they raised you and it is your job to repay them. Confucius never turned down teaching someone. He believed that you should learn and study as much as possible so that you are wise, "Study as if you'll never know enough, as if you're afraid of losing it all." Give people laws and penalties to follow and they will stay out of trouble. "Lead the people by laws and regulate them by penalties, and people will try to keep out of jail, but will have no sense of shame. Lead the people by virtue and restrain them by rules of decorum, and the people will have a sense of shame, and moreover will become good." If the laws are not strict enough and enforced like they should be then they will not be followed.
