Against the Earnest Activist

There is an imperialism lurking in certain forms of earnestness. That earnestness is now in full flower, with a present plenty of Those Who Know Best and who Must Do Good In A Hurry--all of which makes appropriate an antidote-by-way-of-anecdote, courtesy of Zhuangzi, the greatest philosopher, mystic, humorist, ironist, and irrepressible libertarian pre- or post-Christ China has or will ever produce. (piercing parable below translated by Victor H. Mair). Alas, the Emperor of the Center!

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The Emperor of the Southern Sea was Lickety The Emperor of the Northern Sea was Split And the Emperor of the Center was Wonton.

Lickety and Split often met each other in the land of Wonton, and Wonton treated them very well. Wanting to repay Wonton's kindness, Lickety and Split said, "All people have seven holes for seeing, hearing, eating, and breathing. Wonton alone lacks them. Let's try boring some holes for him."

So everyday they bored one hole, and on the seventh day Wonton died.