The person on tiptoe is not steady.
The person with legs astride cannot walk.
Those who look only at thernselves see little.
Those who justify themselves are not distinguished.
Those who brag have no merit.
The work of prideful people will not endure.
From the standpoint of the Tao,
these things are
“excessive food and tumors of the body.”
As they bring sickness, followers [...]
To talk little is to follow nature.
A whirlwind does not last all morning.
A sudden shower does not last all day.
Who produces these things?
Heaven and earth!
Even heaven and earth cannot make
wild things last long.
How then can people hope to do so?
People of the Tao
conform to the Tao.
People of Virtue
conform to Virtue.
People who lose the way
conform to [...]
Yield and overcome;
bend and be straight.
Empty out and be full;
wear out and be renewed.
Have little and gain;
have much and be confused.
Therefore, the True Person embraces the One
and becorrles a model for all.
Do not look only at yourself,
and you will see much.
Do not justify yourself,
and you will be distinguished.
Do not brag,
and you will have merit.
Do not [...]
The Great Virtue is to follow the Tao and only the Tao.
The Tao is shadowy and intangible.
Intangible and evasive, and yet within it is a form.
Evasive and intangible, and yet within it is a substance.
Shadowy and dark, and vet within it is a vital force.
This vital force is real and can be relied upon.
From ancient [...]
How great is the difference between “yea” and “yeah”?
How great is the distinction between “good” and “evil”?
Must I fear what others fear? How silly!
Everyone else is joyous as if enjoying the greatest feast,
or going up the terraces in spring.
I alone am drifting without direction,
like a baby who has not yet smiled.
I alone am moping as [...]
Stop being learned and your troubles will end.
Give up wisdom, discard cleverness,
and the people will benefit a hundredfold.
Give up benevolence, discard moral judgments, .’~
and the people will rediscover natural compassion.
Give up shrewdness, discard gain,
and thieves and robbers will disappear.
These three false adornments are not enough to live by.
They must give way to something more solid.
Look [...]
