When the great Way is abandoned
we’re faced with Humanity and Duty.
When clever wisdom appears
we’re faced with duplicity.
When familial harmony ends
we’re faced with obedience and kindness.
And when chaos engulfs the nation
we’re faced with trustworthy ministers.
If you give up sagehood and abandon wisdom
people will profit a hundred times over.
If you give up Humanity and abandon Duty
people will return to obedience and kindness.
If you give up ingenuity and abandon profit
bandits and thieves will roam no more.
But these three
are mere refinements, nowhere near enough.
They depend on something more:
observe origin’s weave, embrace uncarved simplicity,
self nearly forgotten, desires rare.
Tao Te Ching
