The Inner Virtue of Dao

A person of the highest virtue does not make a show of virtue, and so truly has it. A person of lesser virtue never forgets to display virtue, and so truly has no virtue. The highest virtue does not force action and has no ulterior motive. Lesser virtue also tries not to force action, but still has an ulterior motive. The highest benevolence acts, but from the heart, without an ulterior motive. The highest righteousness acts, but with a purpose in mind. The highest ritual propriety acts, and if no one responds, it rolls up its sleeves and forces people to comply. So when the Tao is lost, virtue appears. When virtue is lost, benevolence appears. When benevolence is lost, righteousness appears. When righteousness is lost, ritual propriety appears. Ritual propriety is a thinning of loyalty and trust, and the beginning of disorder. Clever foresight is only the outer show of the Tao, the beginning of foolishness. Therefore a truly great person holds to the thick, not the thin; holds to the real, not the showy. He lets go of the one and chooses the other......