The short of it:
Act but don’t expect.
51. Nourishing Virtue.
Tau produces and Virtue nourishes; everything takes form, and the forces bring to perfection. Therefore everything agrees in honouring Tau and exalting Virtue. And this houring of Tau and exalting of Virtue is not the result of any command, but is spontaneous for ever. For Tau produces, (Virtue) nourishes, enlarges, feeds, completes ripens, cherishes, and covers all things.
To produce and not possess- to act and not expect- to enlarge and not control- this is called sublime Virtue.
51. ‘The Operation (of the Tao) in Nourishing Things.’
51.1 All things are produced by the Tao, and nourished by its outflowing operation. They receive their forms according to the nature of each, and are completed according to the circumstances of their condition. Therefore all things without exception honour the Tao, and exalt its outflowing operation.
51.2 This honouring of the Tao and exalting of its operation is not the result of any ordination, but always a spontaneous tribute.
51.3 Thus it is that the Tao produces (all things), nourishes them, brings them to their full growth, nurses them, completes them, matures them, maintains them, and overspreads them.
51.4 It produces them and makes no claim to the possession of them; it carries them through their processes and does not vaunt its ability in doing so; it brings them to maturity and exercises no control over them; -this is called its mysterious operation.
51. Nursing Virtue.
51.1 Reason quickens all creatures. Virtue feeds them. Reality shapes them. The forces complete them. Therefore among the ten thousand things there is none that does not esteem Reason and honor virtue.
51.2 Since the esteem of Reason and the honoring of virtue is by no one commanded, it is forever spontaneous.
51.3 Therefore it is said that Reason quickens all creatures, while virtue feeds them, raises them, nurtures them, completes them, matures them, rears them, and protects them.
51.4 To quicken but not to own, to make but not to claim, to raise but not to rule, this is called profound virtue.
The long of it:
The world operates according to two principles: tao (operation) and te (virtue). Tao is the way things happen; the mere fact that they do. Te is the opportunity to do something productive with them. This opportunity is forever spontaneous, and can’t ever be defined.
So don’t rage at how things are happening. They have to happen some way. Instead, celebrate the opportunity to do something with them. Something wonderful.
-TB
