If the Great Way perishes there will morality and duty. When cleverness and knowledge arise great lies will flourish. When relatives fall out with one another there will be filial duty and love. When states are in confusion there will be faithful servants.
Interpretation
The quote suggests that moral values and duties arise in response to the loss of a harmonious way of life.
Laozi's quote reflects on the state of human relationships and moral obligations within society. It implies that when harmony and the 'Great Way' are lost, people tend to cling to morality and duty as a response to chaos and clever deceit. The mention of familial love and loyalty in the face of conflict highlights the importance of maintaining strong bonds in difficult times, suggesting that true virtue emerges from necessity rather than a natural state of being.
In practice
This quote can be used in a discussion on ethics and human behavior in chaotic times.
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.
As a general rule, I would say that human beings never behave more badly toward one another than when they believe they are protecting God.
My schedule for today lists a six-hour self-accusatory depression.
As soon as you believe that a label you've put on yourself is true, you've limited something that is literally limitless, you've limited who you are into nothing but a thought.
Now thank we all our God, With hearts and hands and voices; Who wondrous things hath done, In whom this world rejoices. Who, from our mother's arms, Hath led us on our way, With countless gifts of love, And still is ours today.
People are sad. People are broke. People are worried about money, people are worried that they're not enough and not amounting to anything and they don't feel good about themselves. People have rough times, and everybody's pretending it's not true, and we need to break that veneer.
The goal of life is not to possess power but to radiate it.
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