Chapter 18 · When the Great Tao Is Lost

Tao Te Ching (Legge, 1891) · chapter title added by Learn the Dao

Learn the Dao: a quiet practice for learning the thing that can’t be known.

The chapter’s first line

When the Great Tao (Way or Method) ceased to be observed,

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This chapter in plain modern English — David Kooi’s rendering ↓

When the Great Tao (Way or Method) ceased to be observed, benevolence and righteousness came into vogue. (Then) appeared wisdom and shrewdness, and there ensued great hypocrisy. When harmony no longer prevailed throughout the six kinships, filial sons found their manifestation; when the states and clans fell into disorder, loyal ministers appeared.

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when the states and clans fell — missed into disorder loyal ministers appeared

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Chapter 18, in a second rendering

Loud About Virtue

Dao De Kooi — an original rendering by David Kooi

When the Dao quietly stopped working, that's when we got loud about virtue and ethics. When cleverness showed up, so did the big fakery. Families that can't get along start preaching about family values. A country falling apart is suddenly full of patriots. The slogans get loudest right where the real thing went missing - that's the tell.

Next · Chapter 19If we could renounce our sageness and discard our wisdom…Read chapter 19 →

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