Sacred Texts  Taoism  Index  Previous  Next 

72. HOLDING ONESELF DEAR.

1. If the people do not fear the dreadful, the great dreadful will come, surely.

2. Let them not deem their lives narrow. Let them not deem their lot wearisome. When it is not deemed wearisome, then it will not be wearisome.

3. Therefore the holy man knows himself but does not display himself. He p. 125 holds himself dear but does not honor himself. Thus he discards the latter and chooses the former.