Thirty Eight
A truly good man is not aware of his goodness,
And therefore he is good.
A foolish man tries to be good,
And therefore he is not good.
A truly good man does nothing
et leaves nothing undone.
A foolish man is always doing,
Yet much remains undone.
When a truly kind man does something, he leaves nothing undone.
When a just man does something, he leaves a great deal to be done.
When a disciplinarian does something and no one responds,
He rolls up his sleeves and attempts to enforce order.
Therefore when Tao is lost, there is goodness.
When goodness is lost there is kindness.
When kindness is lost there is justice.
When justice is lost there is ritual.
Mow ritual is the husk of faith and loyalty is the beginning of confusion.
Knowledge of the future is the flowery tapping of Tao.
It is the beginning of folly.
Therefore the truly great man dwells on what is real,
And not what is on the surface.
Other fruit and not the flower.
Therefore accept the one and reject the other.