English
41
"When a superior scholar hears the Tao he tirelessly practices it. When a middling scholar hears the Tao sometimes he follows it and sometimes he forgets it. When a piddling scholar hears the Tao he laughs loudly at it. Without his laughter it would not be worthy of being Tao, Hence the sayings: "One who understands the Tao seems benighted; One who progresses towards the Tao seems to regress; One who is in accord with the Tao seems tied in knots." Great Te seems like a valley. The completely immaculate seems disgraced. The thoroughly virtuous seems insufficient. Established morality seems a conspiracy. True characteristics seem submerged. A great square has no corners. A great instrument is completed late. A great sound comes from a small noise. A great form has no shape. Tao is hidden and nameless. Yet wonderfully, Tao guarantees that all things are fulfilled."
0
votes
Author
Lao TzuBook
Tao Te Ching
Version: 11