The imperfect is completed. The crooked is straightened. The empty is filled. The old is renewed. With few there is attainment. With much there is confusion. Therefore the sage grasps the one and becomes the model for all. She does not show herself, and therefore is apparent. She does not affirm herself, and therefore is [...]
The forms of great virtue is something that only the tao can follow. The Tao as a “thing” is only vague and obscure. How obscue! How Vague! In it there is form. How Vague! How obscure! in it are things. How deep! How dark! In it there is an essence. The essence is so real– [...]
Get rid of “learning” and there will be no anxiety. How much difference is there between “yes” and “no”? Howfar removed from each other are “good” and “evil”? Yet what the people are in awe of cannot be disregarded. I am scattered, never having been in a comfortable center. All the people enjoy themselves as [...]
Get rid of “Holiness” and abandon “Wisdom” and the people will benefit a hundredfold. Get rid of “humaneness” and abandon “rightness” and the people will return to filial piety and compassion. Get rid of cleverness and abandon profit, and thieves and gangsters will not exist. Since the above three are merely words, they are not [...]
When the great Tao perishes There is humaneness and rightness. When intelligence is manifest There is great deception. When the six relationships are not in harmony There us filial piety and compassion. When the country is in chaos Loyal ministers appear.
From great antiquity forth they have known and possessed it. Those of the next level loved and praised it. The next were in awe of it. And the next despised it. If you lack sincerity no one will believe you. How careful she is with her precious words! When her work is complete and her [...]
