Chapter 81

Sincere words are not fine; fine words are not sincere. Those who are skilled (in the Tao) do not dispute (about it); the disputatious are not skilled in it. Those who know (the Tao) are not extensively learned; the extensively learned do not know it. The sage does not accumulate (for himself). The more that he expends for others, the more does he possess of his own; the more that he gives to others, the more does he have himself. With all the sharpness of the Way of Heaven, it injures not; with all the doing in the way of the sage he does not strive. Sacred Texts | Taoism « Previous: Texts of Taoism (SBE 40): Appendixes: Index to Volumes XX... Index Next: Tao, The Great Luminant - index » (function(){function c(){var b=a.contentDocument||a.contentWindow.document;if(b){var d=b.createElement('script');d.innerHTML="window.__CF$cv$params={r:'9e920a73ba81e5f4',t:'MTc3NTY1OTM2OQ=='};var a=document.createElement('script');a.src='/cdn-cgi/challenge-platform/scripts/jsd/main.js';document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(a);";b.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(d)}}if(document.body){var a=document.createElement('iframe');a.height=1;a.width=1;a.style.position='absolute';a.style.top=0;a.style.left=0;a.style.border='none';a.style.visibility='hidden';document.body.appendChild(a);if('loading'!==document.readyState)c();else if(window.addEventListener)document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded',c);else{var e=document.onreadystatechange||function(){};document.onreadystatechange=function(b){e(b);'loading'!==document.readyState&&(document.onreadystatechange=e,c())}}}})();

Commentary

Commentary

PROPOUNDING THE ESSENTIAL. 1. PROPOUNDING THE ESSENTIAL. 1. True words are not pleasant; pleasant words a re not true. The good are not contentious; the contentious are not good. The wise are not learned; the learned are not wise. 2. The holy man hoards not. The more he does for others, the more he owns himself. The more he gives to others, the more will he himself lay up an abundance. 3. Heaven's Reason is to benefit but not to injure; the holy man's Reason is to accomplish but not to strive. Next: Chapter I. | « Previous...