TaoismChapter 18HOLYMAP · SACRED TEXTS
Tao Te ChingChapter 18

Tao Te Ching

Chapter 18

18
English · James Legge

When the Great Tao (Way or Method) ceased to be observed, benevolence and righteousness came into vogue. (Then) appeared wisdom and shrewdness, and there ensued great hypocrisy. When harmony no longer prevailed throughout the six kinships, filial sons found their manifestation; when the states and clans fell into disorder, loyal ministers appeared.

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Chinese text from Chinese Wikisource (zh.wikisource.org), transcribed by Wikisource volunteers. Public domain. · Source ↗

Translated by James Legge, The Texts of Tâoism, Part I, Sacred Books of the East vol. 39 (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1891). Public domain. E-text from Project Gutenberg (#216), checked word by word against scans of the 1891 printing (Internet Archive). · Source ↗

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