Rules do not give life.
The Tao gives life.
And the Tao is seen in butterflies
and galaxies.
If children were trusted to discover God
in the center of their own hearts
the world would be at peace.

But we have made systems of rules
and institutions of control.
Accept this as the way things are
but always recognize the limitations of rules,
and the danger of institutions.
Rules can guide a child but cannot define that child.
Institutions can nurture a child
but cannot bring that child to maturity.

For a short while,
when your children are young,
you may be able to coerce good behavior.
But goodness of the heart
can never be coerced.
It can only be encouraged
or discouraged.

--- The Parents Tao Te Ching