Tao Te Ching 18: No Rules Are Needed

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When the greatness of the Tao is present,

right action arises from one’s own heart.

When the greatness of the Tao is absent,

action comes from the rules

of “kindness” and “justice”.

If you need rules to be kind and just,

this is a sure sign that virtue is absent.

When intellectualism arises,

hypocrisy is close behind.

When kinship falls into discord,

piety and rites of devotion arise.

When there is strife in the family,

people talk of “brotherly love”.

When the country falls into chaos,

patriotism is...