Confucius said the words seem empty and then called them profound, but something can be profoundly good or bad, he doesn't specify, which is smart. A strong 1-2 combo.

Then Laozi came in with an uppercut stunner in my opinion, telling him he can't be the helpless victim and the heroic ruler at the same time, while ignoring all the truth between those extremes (at least that's how I read it).

It must be interesting to be there, soaking in this battle of intellect and perspective that echoes into now from such a long time ago.