English
38
"The highest virtue is not virtuous; therefore it truly has virtue. The lowest virtue never loses sight of its virtue; therefore it has no true virtue. The highest virtue takes no action, yet it has no reason for acting this way; The highest humanity takes action, yet it has no reason for acting this way; The highest righteousness takes action, and it has its reason for acting this way; The highest propriety takes action, and when no one responds to it, then it angrily rolls up its sleeves and forces people to comply. Therefore, when the Way is lost, only then do we have virtue; When virtue is lost, only then do we have humanity; When humanity is lost, only then do we have righteousness; And when righteousness is lost, only then do we have propriety. As for propriety, it's but the thin edge of loyalty and sincerity, and the beginning of disorder. And foreknowledge is but the flower of the Way, and the beginning of stupidity. Therefore the Great Man Dwells in the thick and doesn't dwell in the thin; Dwells in the fruit and doesn't dwell in the flower. Therefore, he rejects that and takes this."
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Author
Lao TzuBook
Tao Te Ching
Version: 8