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"A person of high te is not te, Therefore such a person has te; A person of low te does not lose (shih) te, Therefore such a person has no te. A person of high te does not act (wei), For such a person has no cause for action; A person of low te acts, For such a person has cause for action. A person of high jen (humanity) acts, Yet such a person has no cause for action; A person of high i (righteousness) acts, For such a person has cause for action. A person of high li (propriety) acts, Yet finding no response, Proceeds to bare the arms and throw a rope. Therefore when Tao is lost (shih), then there is te. When te is lost, then there is jen (humanity). When jen is lost, then there is i (righteousness). When i is lost, then there is li (propriety). As to li, it is the thin edge of loyalty and faithfullness, And the beginning of disorder; As to foreknowledge (ch'ien shih), it is the flowering of Tao, And the beginning of stupidity (yü). Thus a great person, abiding in the thick, Does not dwell in the thin; Abiding in the kernel, Does not dwell in the flower. Therefore such a person leaves that and takes this."