Tao Te Ching

If one follows the way, one is rewarded with clarity (something that is “limpid” is clear), and is settled and powerful. If people follow the way, the society is virtuous, people are alive, and the lords become true leaders of the empire. The way is what gives these people power. Without it, the heavens and earth will be destroyed, and the gods will lose their power. The virtue of the earth will disappear, the creatures of the earth will die, and leaders will lose their power. The high must debase themselves to have power. They must act weak and submissive to have power. The high must be without renown and must not stick out.

The way moves in ways that are weak and that involve turning back. Though the world’s creatures are born from something, that something emanates in the nothingness that is the way (in other words, the nothingness of the way can create life).

This chapter captures how students approach studying the way. While the best students follow the way, mediocre students cannot stick to it, and the worst student laughs at the way. It is this laughter that shows the way is worthy, as fools laugh at the way.

The way does not seem outwardly attractive, as it is dull, though in actuality it is bright. It seems to lead backwards but actually leads forward; it seems to be rough, even though it’s not. The purest form of virtue is like a valley, a landform that dips down and seems humble but is actually powerful.

The author shows through a series of images that appearances can be deceptive. Whiteness appears sullied, or dirtied, and virtue seems lazy or dirty. However, something that is truly great like the way is hard to describe, as it has no shape or name and is hidden. However, the way is above all other things in its ability to accomplish what it sets out to. 

The way has created all the creatures on earth, who carry with them the yin (the female, submissive force) and the yang (the male, powerful force), the two creative forces that make everything on earth. While people hate words like “solitary,” “desolate,” and “hapless,” truly great leaders use these words to refer to themselves, in order to show of humility. They add to themselves by diminishing themselves. The author writes that the violent will come to violent ends. 

The most submissive force can defeat the most powerful force. The submissive force has no substance, so it can easily enter something that appears without fault. That is why, the author writes, they know that it is best not to take action, though only a few people on earth understand this idea.

This chapter is about the importance of living a simple life. The author asks whether the reader values his or her name or person more, or his or her person or possessions more. The author then asks whether a gain or loss is more of a burden to make the point that if one has a lot of possessions, this type of gain can position someone for a loss. Being too mean, or frugal, can lead to great expense, and having too many goods can result in a loss. If one is content with what he or she has, one cannot lose more, and if one knows one’s limits, one will be safe. 

This book examines contradictions. For example, greatness seems flawed, and fullness seems empty. But this type of greatness or fullness cannot be diminished or drained. Similarly, straightness appears crooked, skill appears unskilled, and eloquence seems like awkwardness. However, if one is still and quiet, it is more powerful than being heated or energetic, and, by being still and quiet, one can be a leader.

If the way prevails, everything is at peace. Rather than being used for war, horses are used to plow fields. Having too many desires leads to discontent, and one should be content and not desire other people’s things, or be greedy. If one is content, one will always feel satisfied with what one has.

A person who knows the way does not have to travel to know everything. By simply looking out the window, one can know the whole world. However, by traveling, one only gets to know less. The sage, or person who knows the way, does not have to travel or try. He or she sees all.

If one is trying to learn, one must do more, but if one knows the way, that person can do less but accomplish everything. However, one who meddles too much is not worthy of leading the empire.

The sage does not think for him or herself but follows the will of the people. The author writes that he treats the good as good, and he also treats those who are not good as good, so that they will become good. He also has faith in both those who deserve faith and those who do not, and, in this way, he encourages good faith in everyone. The sage treats all people like children and guards over them.

In this chapter, the author speaks about how some people move towards death and some towards life. However, there are also some who are so cautious and careful about life that they too move towards death. However, if people follow the tao, they are protected and can’t meet with the rhinoceros or tiger when they are traveling or meet death when they are in a war. The tao is protective of people.

All creatures are created by the way, and they are then raised by virtue and shaped by the circumstances of their lives. People revere the way because it is part of nature, not because it’s deemed to be important by the authorities. The way gives people life and helps raise people; it brings them to maturity. The way also gives people food and shelter, but it takes no credit for what it does and claims no authority, so it is mysterious in nature.

The tao is the mother of the entire world and gave birth to it. When one knows the mother, one can know its children, which consist of all the creatures on earth. As we know these creatures, we can appreciate the mother that created us and know that the mother, or the way, will keep us safe. We should lead peaceful existences, with the doors and openings shut. But if we open these doors, we invite trouble into our lives. Instead, we should appreciate what is small and submissive. This is true strength. If we follow the way, we will see clearly and avoid disaster.

The author writes that even if he had only the slightest knowledge, he would follow the path of the way and avoid all side paths. The easiest path is to follow the way, but people get led down side paths. In this case, disaster follows, as the royal court is corrupt, the fields are not fertile, and grain houses are empty. However, people still dress in fine clothes and carry swords and fill themselves with too much food and drink and have too much money. These people are thieves and do not live according to the way.

If something such as the way is firmly rooted in one’s life and practice, it cannot be removed. Instead, it will be followed by one’s descendants. If one cultivates it in oneself and one’s family, they will recognize its worth. One should also cultivate it in one’s community and in the state and the empire as a whole, and everyone will recognize the worth of the tao. The way will pervade all of these entities if one cultivates it within one’s own being. 

The person who is truly virtuous is like a newborn baby. This person will be protected from insects, wild animals, and predatory birds. Though this person seems weak, he or she will be strong and virile. This type of person can yell all day but not get a hoarse voice because he or she lives with the harmony of the tao. One does not have to try too hard to be vital. If a young person harms older people, this violates the way, and such a person will meet an early death.

If one speaks too much, one will not learn. Instead, one should block the openings, shut the door, make sharp objects dull, untie knots, and soften one’s glare. These are all ways to say that one should be soft and meek and should travel along familiar, easy paths. You cannot approach the tao, or keep it away. You cannot harm it or lift it up.

The ideal ruler should be honest and should use craftiness in waging war, but the ruler should be passive overall. If the ruler makes too many rules, it creates poverty. If the people have too many weapons, the state will suffer. If people have too many skills or novelties and there are too many laws, the people will turn to theft. However, if a ruler is passive and still and doesn’t’t meddle too much, the state runs itself and the people are virtuous and prosperous. If the ruler is free of desire, the people become simple, like the “uncarved block.”

The people become like the ruler. If the government is simple, so are the people. If the government is too alert, people are crafty. Disaster will follow after a period of good times. It’s hard for the ruler to know his or her limits, as a ruler who is honest often becomes tricky, and a tricky ruler becomes honest. Therefore, the best ruler has sharp edges but does not use them and tries to impress others without being too dazzling.

To rule people and serve heaven, a ruler should follow moderation. If he or she follows this path from the beginning, the ruler will be virtuous and will overcome all obstacles and will not have limits to his or her power. This way, the ruler can hold onto power and endure, and the leader who lasts must have deep roots in the way.