Columbo: The Daoist Detective

[dust]

 

(just a short scene illustrating the character's apparent dimwittedness)

 

I think I could learn something from Lieutenant Columbo

Not putting on a display,
They shine forth.
Not justifying themselves,
They are distinguished.
Not boasting,
They receive recognition.
Not bragging,
They never falter.
They do not quarrel,
So no one quarrels with them.
Therefore the ancients say, "Yield and overcome."
Is that an empty saying?
Be really whole,
And all things will come to you.

(extract ch.22, Feng)

 

 

Under heaven nothing is more soft and yielding than water.
Yet for attacking the solid and strong, nothing is better;
It has no equal.
The weak can overcome the strong;
The supple can overcome the stiff.
Under heaven everyone knows this,
Yet no one puts it into practice.
Therefore the sage says:
He who takes upon himself the humiliation of the people is fit to rule them.
He who takes upon himself the country's disasters deserves to be king of the universe.
The truth often sounds paradoxical.

 

(ch.78, Feng)

 

 

The wise man
Stands ahead of the people by putting himself behind them,
Above them by speaking as from below;
Above them, yet the people feel not his presence,
Ahead of them, yet the people come not to harm,
And all proceed happily without a fuss;
By not contending,
None under heaven can contend with him

(extract ch.66, my translation)

[Rocky Lionmouth]

Great!

 

I've been on this track too a couple of times, especially for how people relate to him, he kind of comes off like a disguised drunken immortal or something every now and then, popping up, asking weird questions and being underestimated until the very last moment.

Also his apparent erratic connections, he always seemed to be investigating himself as much as genuinely seeking answers about others whereabouts and activities. If not more.

Edited September 29, 2014 by Rocky Lionmouth

[Rocky Lionmouth]

If you're into the pondering philosophical air of Mr. Falk i can recommend that Wim Wenders movie, i think its called Wings of Desire in english, the original title is "Der Himmel über Berlin", late 80s.

[soaring crane]

Nice, thanks. Now it seems so obvious why I always like Columbo :-)

 

Forrest Gump has similar qualities. The whole character is like the embodiment of Wei Wu Wei

[dust]

he always seemed to be investigating himself as much as genuinely seeking answers about others whereabouts and activities. If not more.

 

Interesting..I hadn't come to that idea yet. I plan on watching some tonight. Will pay attention to that!

 

Will definitely have a look at Wings of Desire too -- looking on IMDb, it sounds very interesting

 

 

Forrest Gump has similar qualities. The whole character is like the embodiment of Wei Wu Wei

 

Yes! I see that..

[Rocky Lionmouth]

Interesting..I hadn't come to that idea yet. I plan on watching some tonight. Will pay attention to that!

 

Will definitely have a look at Wings of Desire too -- looking on IMDb, it sounds very interesting

 

Thats at least how i remember it ^^

Always with the questions, often asked with some form of "i forget" or "you see i cant for the life of me understand..."

 

The film is amazing in my book.

 

Forrest Gump has similar qualities. The whole character is like the embodiment of Wei Wu Wei

 

Word! Its gotten a lot of fluffy admirers (i get sicky when cute people talk about feelgoody cuteness like cuteness is an accessory) but i really like it for the sharp twists between terror and harmony, so many terrible things happen and he's always able to position and time his actions like a superhero.

[hagar]

Then the antithesius; William Shatner/Kirk

 

Those who know do not speak, do they?

Edited September 29, 2014 by hagar

[Protector]

Columbo is the best troll ever

I remember an episode where he was jerking a suspect around as usual just to have it end with the murder being a suicide