Tao Te ChingTaoismAccepted ScriptureClassical ChineseShareTao Te Ching 38James Legge 1891 - EnglishMoreVersion - 1 availableJames Legge 1891LanguageEnglishEspañol‹Tao Te Ching 1Tao Te Ching 2Tao Te Ching 3Tao Te Ching 4Tao Te Ching 5Tao Te Ching 6Tao Te Ching 7Tao Te Ching 8Tao Te Ching 9Tao Te Ching 10Tao Te Ching 11Tao Te Ching 12Tao Te Ching 13Tao Te Ching 14Tao Te Ching 15Tao Te Ching 16Tao Te Ching 17Tao Te Ching 18Tao Te Ching 19Tao Te Ching 20Tao Te Ching 21Tao Te Ching 22Tao Te Ching 23Tao Te Ching 24Tao Te Ching 25Tao Te Ching 26Tao Te Ching 27Tao Te Ching 28Tao Te Ching 29Tao Te Ching 30Tao Te Ching 31Tao Te Ching 32Tao Te Ching 33Tao Te Ching 34Tao Te Ching 35Tao Te Ching 36Tao Te Ching 37Tao Te Ching 38Tao Te Ching 39Tao Te Ching 40Tao Te Ching 41Tao Te Ching 42Tao Te Ching 43Tao Te Ching 44Tao Te Ching 45Tao Te Ching 46Tao Te Ching 47Tao Te Ching 48Tao Te Ching 49Tao Te Ching 50Tao Te Ching 51Tao Te Ching 52Tao Te Ching 53Tao Te Ching 54Tao Te Ching 55Tao Te Ching 56Tao Te Ching 57Tao Te Ching 58Tao Te Ching 59Tao Te Ching 60Tao Te Ching 61Tao Te Ching 62Tao Te Ching 63Tao Te Ching 64Tao Te Ching 65Tao Te Ching 66Tao Te Ching 67Tao Te Ching 68Tao Te Ching 69Tao Te Ching 70Tao Te Ching 71Tao Te Ching 72Tao Te Ching 73Tao Te Ching 74Tao Te Ching 75Tao Te Ching 76Tao Te Ching 77Tao Te Ching 78Tao Te Ching 79Tao Te Ching 80Tao Te Ching 81›Tao Te Ching: Chapter 38Tao Te Ching 38ListenPlay this chapter in spoken English.Save chapterListen to chapter1(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. 5Thus 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. 6Now 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. 7Thus 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. ‹Previous chapterTao Te Ching 37Next chapterTao Te Ching 39›Similar passagesBy tradition and source labelFind similarCompare selectedCompare with similarAsk Deep ThoughtSelect passages to search for parallels.Tap any verse to select it, then compare selected passages or ask Deep Thought. Public domain in the United States via Project Gutenberg