When the great Tao is abandoned, benevolence and righteousness arise.
Interpretation
Abandoning the natural way leads to the emergence of artificial moral concepts.
This quote by Laozi suggests that when humanity moves away from the natural and harmonious path (the Tao), artificial constructs like benevolence and righteousness emerge. These constructs, though often viewed as positives, signify a loss of the intrinsic wisdom found in following the natural way of the universe. It reflects on the idea that societal norms and moralities can be distortions stemming from a disconnection from a deeper understanding of life.
In practice
In a discussion on moral philosophy, one might quote Laozi to highlight the importance of natural ethics over constructed morality.
If you understand others you are smart._x000D_ If you understand yourself you are illuminated._x000D_ If you overcome others you are powerful._x000D_ If you overcome yourself you have strength._x000D_ If you know how to be satisfied you are rich._x000D_ If you can act with vigor, you have a will._x000D_ If you don't lose your objectives you can be long-lasting._x000D_ If you die without loss, you are eternal.
When nothing is done, nothing is left undone.
A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.
Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is enlightenment.
In the world there is nothing more submissive and weak than water. Yet for attacking that which is hard and strong nothing can surpass it.
Rule your mind with serenity rather than with force and manipulation.
The idea of God implies the abdication of human reason and justice; it is the most decisive negation of human liberty and necessarily ends in the enslavement of mankind both in theory and practice.
Our bodies and minds evolved and were adapted for hundreds of thousands of years for tasks like climbing a tree and picking apples, or hunting rabbits, or looking for mushrooms in the forest. They were not adapted to the very gruelling work that is involved in field work - ploughing, harvesting, bringing water, digging weeds - things like that.
Let every man recognize what he is, and be certain that we are all equally priests, that is, we have the same power in the word and in any sacrament whatever.
It is the destiny of the weak to be devoured by the strong.
The augmentation of slaves weakens the states; and such a trade is diabolical in itself, and disgraceful to mankind.
We ought not to extract pernicious honey from poison blossoms of misrepresentation and mendacious half-truth, to pamper the course appetite of bigotry and self-love.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.