54
"That which is well established cannot be uprooted That which is strongly held cannot be taken The descendants will commemorate it forever Cultivate it in yourself, its virtue shall be true Cultivate it in the family, its virtue shall be abundant Cultivate it in the community, its virtue shall be lasting Cultivate it in the country, its virtue shall be prosperous Cultivate it in the world, its virtue shall be widespread Therefore observe others with yourself Observe other families with your family Observe other communities with your community Observe other countries with your country Observe the world with the world With what do I know the world? With this The well-established cannot be uprooted. The well-grasped does not slip away. Generation after generation carries out the ancestor worship without break. Cultivate it in yourself and virtue will be real. Cultivate it in the family and virtue will overflow. Cultivate it in the town and virtue will be great. Cultivate it in the country and virtue will abundant. Cultivate it in the world and virtue will be everywhere. Therefore, take yourself and observe yourself. Take the family and observe the family. Take the town and observe the town. Take the country and observe the country. Take the world and observe the world. How do I know the world as it is? By this. Who plants well will not have his work uprooted; who embraces well will not lose what he holds; the offerings of his sons and grandsons will never end. Who thus regulates himself has virtue which is genuine; who thus regulates his household has virtue which overflows; who thus regulates his neighborhood has virtue which excels; who thus regulates the state has virtue which abounds; who thus regulates the world has virtue which is universal. Therefore let every man prove himself; let each household, neighborhood, and state do the same; let the world also follow the same course. How do I know that it must be thus with the world? By this same (which has been just said)."
Author
Lao TzuAll Translations
"That which is well established cannot be uprooted That which is strongly held cannot be taken The descendants will commemorate it forever Cultivate it in yourself, its virtue shall be true Cultivate it in the family, its virtue shall be abundant Cultivate it in the community, its virtue shall be lasting Cultivate it in the country, its virtue shall be prosperous Cultivate it in the world, its virtue shall be widespread Therefore observe others with yourself Observe other families with your family Observe other communities with your community Observe other countries with your country Observe the world with the world With what do I know the world? With this The well-established cannot be uprooted. The well-grasped does not slip away. Generation after generation carries out the ancestor worship without break. Cultivate it in yourself and virtue will be real. Cultivate it in the family and virtue will overflow. Cultivate it in the town and virtue will be great. Cultivate it in the country and virtue will abundant. Cultivate it in the world and virtue will be everywhere. Therefore, take yourself and observe yourself. Take the family and observe the family. Take the town and observe the town. Take the country and observe the country. Take the world and observe the world. How do I know the world as it is? By this. Who plants well will not have his work uprooted; who embraces well will not lose what he holds; the offerings of his sons and grandsons will never end. Who thus regulates himself has virtue which is genuine; who thus regulates his household has virtue which overflows; who thus regulates his neighborhood has virtue which excels; who thus regulates the state has virtue which abounds; who thus regulates the world has virtue which is universal. Therefore let every man prove himself; let each household, neighborhood, and state do the same; let the world also follow the same course. How do I know that it must be thus with the world? By this same (which has been just said)."