Permeating heaven and earth, there is virtue.Operating in all things, there is the Tao. It is the duty of rulers to govern the people.Ability was developed into skill,which led to righteousness;righteousness rose from virtue, and virtue emerged from the Tao.The Tao was aligned with heaven. The ancients who sustained the worlddesired nothing and the…
Undistinguished and yet needed for use—Such are things.Low and yet to be relied upon—Such are people.Hidden and yet necessary to be set forth—Such are the laws.Remote and yet necessary to hold within-–Such is righteousness.Near and yet necessary to extend widely—Such is benevolence.Restrictive and yet necessary to be applied broadly—Such are ceremonies. Placed in the…
The teaching of a great manis like a shadow,following the body,an echo following the sound.All questions find answers in his innermost thought. He abides in silenceand his field of activity is not confined.He guides people to their goalsthrough their movements.His actions leave no traceas he goes forth and returns. His movements arelike the sun–…
Yungjiang implored, “It has been difficult to meet with you. O Heaven! I ask for one more word.” “Ah, your mind needs to be fortified. Do nothing and things will be transformed by themselves. Be indifferent to your body, dismiss your hearing and sight, And forget the external world. Be one with the ultimate…
Cui Qu asked Laozi, “If you do not govern the world, how can you make men’s minds good?” “Take care lest you intervene and disturb men’s minds,” replied Laozi. “The mind, if pushed down becomes despondent; if pulled up, elated. Now elated, now despondent, here it is a captive, and there it is a…
The superior man/woman, when obliged to govern the world, will find that it is best to do nothing. In doing nothing, he can abide in his/her true given nature. Hence one who honors the world as he honors his own person can be entrusted with government. One who loves the world as he loves…
Pleasure in seeing leads to an excessive preoccupation with colors. Pleasure in hearing leads to an excessive preoccupation with sounds. Pleasure in benevolence leads to disorder in virtue. Pleasure in righteousness leads to opposition to reason. Pleasure in ritual leads to artifice. Pleasure in music leads to sensuous indulgence. Pleasure in wisdom of the…
I have heard of letting the world beand letting it stand; I have not heardof governing the world. We let it belest men will push their nature to extreme.We let it standlest men will alter their nature.When men do not carry their nature to extremesor alter their virtuewhat need would there be to govern…
There is a saying, “The greatest art resembles ignorance.” The versatility shown in ingenuous arguments and the efforts to blow off the dust and reconcile different views is great, but the common people are perplexed by the sophistry. Hence there is a prevailing disorder in the world due to a fondness for knowledge. All…
The followers of the Robber Zhi asked him, “Do robbers have any principles?” He replied, “What profession is there which does not have its principles? That the robber decides that there are things of value in the house shows his knowledge; that he is the first to break into the house shows his courage;…
