Chapter 38 · On Attributes, Higher and Lower

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

(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). (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. (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. (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. 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. 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. Thus it is that the Great man abides by what is solid, and eschews what is flimsy; dwells with the fruit and not with the flower. It is thus that he puts away the one and makes choice of the other.

Real Character Doesn't Perform

Dao De Kooi — an original rendering by David Kooi

The people with real character don't think about character, which is exactly why they have it. The people working hard at being good can't stop performing it, which is why it rings hollow. Real character acts without an angle. The performed kind always has a motive, and when nobody claps, it grabs you by the arm and makes you participate. So the slide goes: lose the Dao and you fall back on character. Lose that, you fall back on being nice. Lose that, you fall back on the rules. And rules are the thin outer shell - where trust got too thin to hold, and the trouble starts. So the grown-up version lives in what's solid, not the shell. Goes for the fruit, not the flower. Drops the one, keeps the other.

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