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Scholars of the highest class,
when they hear about the Tao,
earnestly carry it into practice. Scholars of the middle class, when
they have heard about
it, seem now to keep it and now to lose it.
Scholars of the lowest class,
when they have heard about it, laugh
greatly at it. If it were not (thus) laughed at, it would not be fit
to be the
Tao.
Therefore the sentence-makers have thus expressed themselves:--
'The
Tao, when brightest seen, seems light to lack;
Who progress in it makes, seems drawing back;
Its even way is like a
rugged track.
Its highest virtue from the vale doth rise;
Its greatest beauty seems to offend the eyes;
And he has
most whose lot the least supplies.
Its firmest virtue seems but poor and low;
Its solid truth seems change
to undergo;
Its largest square doth yet no corner show
A vessel great, it is the slowest made;
Loud is its sound,
but never word it said;
A semblance great, the shadow of a shade.'
The Tao is hidden, and has no
name; but it is the Tao which is
skilful at imparting (to all things what they need) and making them
