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The Sacred Books of China (39); The Texts of Taoism
The Sacred Books of China The Texts of Taoism - 39 Author:James Legge Volume: 39 General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1891 Original Publisher: Clarendon Press Subjects: Taoism History / Asia / China Philosophy / Eastern Philosophy / Taoist Religion / Buddhism / General Religion / Confucianism Religion / Taoism Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the ori... more »ginal. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. Excerpt: PART II. 38. 1. (Those who) possessed in highest degree the attributes (of the Tao) did not (seek) to show them, and therefore they possessed them (in fullest measure). (Those who) possessed in a lower degree those attributes (sought how) not to lose them, and therefore they did not possess them (in fullest measure). 2. (Those who) possessed in the highest degree those attributes did nothing (with a purpose), and had no need to do anything. (Those who) possessed them in a lower degree were (always) doing, and had need to be so doing. 3. (Those who) possessed the highest benevolence were (always seeking) to carry it out, and had no need to be doing so. (Those who) possessed the highest righteousness were (always seeking) to carry it out, and had need to be so doing. 4. (Those who) possessed the highest (sense of) propriety were (always seeking) to show it, and when men did not respond to it, they bared the arm and marched up to them. 5. Thus it was that when the Tao was lost, its attributes appeared; when its attributes were lost, benevolence appeared; when benevolence was lost, righteousness appeared; and when righteousness was lost, the proprieties appeared. 6. Now propriety is the attenuated form of leal- heartedness and good faith, and is also the commencement of disorder; swift apprehension is(only) a flower of the Tao, and is the beginning of stupidity. 7. Thus it is that the Great man ab...« less