Chapter 12

Colour's five hues from th' eyes their sight will take; Music's five notes the ears as deaf can make; The flavours five deprive the mouth of taste; The chariot course, and the wild hunting waste Make mad the mind; and objects rare and strange, Sought for, men's conduct will to evil change. Therefore the sage seeks to satisfy (the craving of) the belly, and not the (insatiable longing of the) eyes. He puts from him the latter, and prefers to seek the former.

Commentary

ABSTAINING FROM DESIRE. 1. "The five colors [combined] the human eye will blind; The five notes [in one sound] the human ear confound; The five tastes [when they blend] the human mouth offend." 2. "Racing and hunting will human hearts turn mad, Treasures high-prized make human conduct bad." 3. Therefore The holy man attends to the inner and not to the outer. He abandons the latter and chooses the former. Next: 13. Loathing Shame | « Previous: The Canon of Reason and Virtue (Tao te Ching): The Old Ph... Next: The Canon ...

Sources: Paul Carus (1913) - Chapter heading; Paul Carus (1913) - Canon of Reason and Virtue