Sacred Texts  Taoism  Index  Previous  Next    15. 1. The
skilful masters (of the Tâo) in old times, with a subtle and
exquisite penetration, comprehended its mysteries, and were deep
(also) so as to elude men's knowledge. As they were thus beyond
men's knowledge, I will make an effort to describe of what sort
they appeared to be.    4. They who preserve this method of the
Tâo do not wish to be full (of themselves). It is through their
not being full of themselves that they can  p. 59  afford to
seem worn and not appear new and complete.  , 'The Exhibition of
the Quality,' that is, of the Tâo, which has been set forth in
the preceding chapter. Its practical outcome is here described
in the masters of it of old, who in their own weakness were yet
strong in it, and in their humility were mighty to be co-workers
with it for the good of the world.  The variety of the readings
in par. 4 is considerable, but not so as to affect the meaning.
This par. is found in Hwâi-nan (XII, 23 a) with an unimportant
variation. F