There is an interesting dialog in Zhuangzi between Confucius and a librarian, Lao Tan, who represents the Taoist philosophy of Lao Tsu.  This exchange is reminiscent of the manner of conversation between Socrates and a younger student in the 4th century BCE Agora of Athens, Greece.

Confucius who represents conventional thinking desires to place a copy of his 12 principles in the local library.  The librarian demonstrates reluctance by questioning Confucius in order to elicit the fundamental meaning of the words which he is using.  High sounding principles with which no one would disagree upon examination often prove to be disturbing, quite the opposite of what they seem to be.

‘Let me ask
whether you consider Benevolence and Righteousness
to constitute the nature of man?’

‘I do,’ was the answer.
‘If the superior man be not benevolent, — he will not fulfil his character;
if he be not righteous, he might as well not have been born.
Benevolence and Righteousness are truly the nature of man.’

Lao Tan continued,
‘Let me ask you what you mean
by Benevolence and Righteousness.’

Confucius said,
‘To be in one’s inmost heart in kindly sympathy with all things;
to love all men;
and to allow no selfish thoughts;
– this is the nature of Benevolence and Righteousness.’

Lao Tan exclaimed,
‘Ah! you almost show your inferiority by such words!
“To love all men!” is not that vague and extravagant?
“To be seeking to allow no selfish thoughts!” – that is selfishness!

If you, Master, wish men not to be without their (proper) shepherding,
think of Heaven and Earth, which certainly pursue their invariable course;
   think of the sun and moon, which surely maintain their brightness;
      think of the stars in the zodiac, which preserve their order and courses;
         think of birds and beasts, which do not fail to collect together in their flocks and herds;
            and think of the trees, which do not fail to stand up (in their places).
Do you, Master, imitate this way and carry it into practice; hurry on, following this course, and you will reach your end.

Why must you further be vehement
in putting forward your Benevolence and Righteousness,
as if you were beating a drum,
and seeking a fugitive son, (only making him run away the more)?
Ah! Master, you are introducing disorder into the nature of man!’

—Zhuangzi, The Way of Heaven, by Zhuang Zhou, trans. James Legge

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This from today’s New York Times:

A man was wrongfully imprisoned for 16 years. After being exonerated, an officer in Georgia shot him to death during a traffic stop.

The sardonic thought comes to mind: God bless America!