The story below is more about myths and legends of ancient China but conveys how our actions can dictate real outcomes. Real people are used to convey how reputation and legacy can illustrate how to shape our lives.
The Book of Lieh Tzu is illustrative of different aspects of human nature. 
My travels with Lieh Tzu and the entry below “Facing up to Reality”, highlights how we are met and respond to challenges. Good men can be beset with great difficulties, while evil or bad men can be successful if only temporarily. It’s helpful to think about the times when the original version was written during the Warring States Period of political upheaval.
The Warring States, (475–221 BC), was the designation for seven or more small feuding Chinese kingdoms whose careers collectively make up an era in Chinese history. It was one of the most fertile and influential in Chinese history. It not only saw the rise of many of the great philosophers of Chinese civilization, including the Confucian thinkers Mencius and Xunzi, but also witnessed the establishment of many of the governmental structures and cultural patterns that were to characterize China for more than the next twenty-five hundred years.
The term Warring States comes from an ancient text called Zhanguoce (“Intrigues of the Warring States”). Among the many states involved, Qin and Chu eventually rose to prominence. Qin ultimately defeated all the others and founded the first unified Chinese empire in 221 BC. 
The Zhou dynasty saw a remarkable blossoming of philosophy, with the emergence of Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism.
Literature thrived, led by Confucius, Lao Tzu, and other influential Chinese thinkers like Chuang and Lieh Tzu. Future generations of Chinese often turned to the Zhou dynasty to explore the roots of their civilization due to the influence of great writings and storytelling.
At this point, the record below became important for grasping history and the memories that would shape our future. The chaos of the time paved the way for a literary renaissance, eventually leading to the profound impact of Confucius. The principles of Confucius were meant to guide our hearts, uniting heaven, earth, and humanity into harmony. This happiness in life isn’t tied to wealth or poverty but comes from the essence of our being.
My travels with Lieh Tzu / Interpolations along the Way
Chapter Seven – Yang Chu
115. Facing up to Reality
Who can know how our lives will be looked upon when we are gone? Our endeavors lead to a lifetime of misery or wealth, how can we know? Yang Chu tells us of six men who the world either reveres or reviles. 
Yet the four who are revered Shun, Yu, the Duke of Zhou and Confucius all lived without a day of joy, and each died a miserable death. While Chieh and Chou inherited great wealth and both sat on the Imperial Throne, they were considered villains who followed their desires and incurred the reputation of fools and tyrants. Although their reputations were undeserved.
While the reputation of the four sages all exceeds the reality of their situation, they died leaving a legacy that has lasted ten thousand generations. How can this be so? Is not all this simply a reminder of who we are to become and the importance of staying within ourselves? Of having no concern for the legacy, we may leave, however we may have lived.
Shun plowed the fields at Ho‑yang and made pots at Lei-tse; he never found a moments ease and never had what would be considered good or sufficient food, he was unloved by his parents and treated as a stranger by the rest of his family. When Yao abdicated the throne to him, he was already old, and his wits had deteriorated. Since his oldest son was incompetent, he had to abdicate the throne to Yu and died at the end of a miserable life.
Years earlier Shun had had Yu’s father Kun killed as he had been responsible for draining the earth of the flood and had not succeeded. Yu had taken on the responsibility of draining the flood and had served his enemy thinking of nothing but his responsibility to the land. When finally Shun abdicated the throne to him his life was miserable with his body paralyzed and his feet callused. He later died having lived a miserable life, the most over driven man under the sky. 
After the death of King Wu, the Duke of Zhou (Ji Dan) controlled the administration of the empire to the displeasure of the Duke of Shao.
Rumors circulated slandering the Duke of Zhou to the point that he was forced to retire for three years. He executed his older brothers and banished his younger brothers barely escaping with his own life. He died at the end of a miserable life in more fear than any man under the sky.
Confucius, the best remembered of the group, understood the way of the Five Emperors and Three Kings, and accepted the invitations of the rulers of his time. In each place he was driven to the end of his resources, trapped by his enemies, humiliated by the Chi family, and insulted by Yang Hu. In the end he died a broken man, the most harried and distraught man under the sky.
Yet for all their difficulties, each of the four are imitated in our history. All coming to represent something much beyond themselves. Something much beyond who they were when they lived and died. Chieh and Chou on the other hand both inherited the wealth of successive reigns, and both sat facing south on the Imperial Throne. The highest rank and honor imaginable. Chieh had enough wit to hold down his subjects and enough authority to make everyone tremble at his merest suggestion. While Chou’s authority prevailed everywhere. They both vented their passion at will, were unconcerned about propriety and duty. Both lived and lied merrily. The most boisterous and carefree of men under the sky.
Both lived in the joy of following their desires and died incurring the reputation of fools and tyrants. Truly their reality was not what their reputation deserved. Whether they were reviled or praised Shun, Yu, the Duke of Zhou and Confucius or Chieh and Chou once they are gone, what can they care? The four sages, while admired, suffered to their end. While the villains, although condemned, were happy to the end. However, they all died just the same. 7/18/95
Number one hundred fifteen of one hundred fifty-eight entries.
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