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"When the very best students learn of way-making (dao) They are just barely able to keep to its center. When mediocre students learn of way-making They are sporadically on it and off it. When the very worst students learn of way-making They guffaw at the very idea. Were they not to guffaw at it It would be something less than way-making. It is for this reason that in the Established Sayings we find it said: Radiant way-making seems obscured, Advancing way-making seems to be receding, Smooth way-making seems to have bumps, The highest character (de) seems like a deep gorge, The most brilliant white seems sullied, The most broadminded character seems deficient, The most steadfast character seems dubious, The most pristine and authentic seems defiled. The greatest square has no corners, The greatest vessel is last to be attended to, The greatest sound is ever so faint, The greatest image has no shape. Way-making is so profuse as to be nameless (wuming). It is only way-making that is as efficacious in the beginnings of things As it is in their completion."
Author
Lao TzuAll Translations
"When the very best students learn of way-making (dao) They are just barely able to keep to its center. When mediocre students learn of way-making They are sporadically on it and off it. When the very worst students learn of way-making They guffaw at the very idea. Were they not to guffaw at it It would be something less than way-making. It is for this reason that in the Established Sayings we find it said: Radiant way-making seems obscured, Advancing way-making seems to be receding, Smooth way-making seems to have bumps, The highest character (de) seems like a deep gorge, The most brilliant white seems sullied, The most broadminded character seems deficient, The most steadfast character seems dubious, The most pristine and authentic seems defiled. The greatest square has no corners, The greatest vessel is last to be attended to, The greatest sound is ever so faint, The greatest image has no shape. Way-making is so profuse as to be nameless (wuming). It is only way-making that is as efficacious in the beginnings of things As it is in their completion."