Abstract: Confucius devoted himself to maintaining the feudal rites, and Lao Dan to Daosim. The two had a common tendency in their politiocal advocations. Both tried to seek the welfare and peace for the people and to make them simple-minded so as to bring the whole society back to its orignal harmony. Their difference lies in that Lao Dan maintained self-righteousness, self-teaching, self-sufficiency, advocating nonaction and noninterference, while Confucius insisted on correcting, educating and enriching the people. Both of them held a critical attitude toward reality.

Key words: confucius, Lao Dan, thought, random comments