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The function of skill

"Good travellers leave not trace nor track, Good speakers, in logic show no lack, Good counters need no counting rack. Good lockers bolting bars need not, Yet none their locks can loose. Good binders need not string nor knot. Yet none unties their noose. Therefore the holy man is always a good saviour of men, for there are no outcast people. He is always a good saviour of things, for there are no outcast things. This is called concealed enlightenment. Therefore the good man is the bad man's instructor, while the bad man is the good man's capital. He who does not esteem his instructor, and he who does not love his capital, although he may be prudent, is greatly disconcerted. This I call significant spirituality."

Author

Lao Tzu

All Translations

English

"Good travellers leave not trace nor track, Good speakers, in logic show no lack, Good counters need no counting rack. Good lockers bolting bars need not, Yet none their locks can loose. Good binders need not string nor knot. Yet none unties their noose. Therefore the holy man is always a good saviour of men, for there are no outcast people. He is always a good saviour of things, for there are no outcast things. This is called concealed enlightenment. Therefore the good man is the bad man's instructor, while the bad man is the good man's capital. He who does not esteem his instructor, and he who does not love his capital, although he may be prudent, is greatly disconcerted. This I call significant spirituality."

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