The Short of It:
The good and bad are interdependent.
62. The Practice of Tau.
Tau is the hidden sanctuary of all things, -the good [person’s] jewel, the bad [person’s] guardian.
Good words are always marketable. Honourable conduct is always transferable to others. Even if they be not good, where is the need to cast them off?
Therefore, in electing an [empire] and appointing [its] nobles, if those should come bearing jewels before them and mounted on fleet steeds, they are not like the [person] who takes [their] seat, holding out this Tau (as [their] recommendation).
For what did the ancients so much prize this Tau? Was it not because it was found at once without searching; and (by it) those who had sinned might escape (be pardoned)? Therefore it is the most estimable thing in the world.
62. The Practice of Tao.
The Tao is the asylum of all things; the good [person]’s treasure, the bad [person]’s last resort. With beautiful words one may sell goods but in winning people can one accomplish more by kindness. Why should a [person] be thrown away for [their] evil? To conserve [them] was the Emperor appointed and the three ministers.
Better than being in the presence of the Emperor and riding with four horses, is sitting and explaining this Tao.
The reason the Ancients esteemed Tao was because if sought it was obtained, and because by it [they] hath sin could be saved. Is it not so? Therefore the world honors Tao.
62. Practise Reason.
62.1 The [person] of Reason is the ten thousand creatures’ refuge, the good [person’s] wealth, the bad [person’s] stay.
62.2 With beautiful words one can sell. With honest conduct one can do still more with the people. If a [person] be bad, why should [they] be thrown away?
62.3 Therefore, an [empire] was elected and three ministers appointed; but better than holding before one’s face the jade table (of the ministry) and riding with four horses, is sitting still and propounding the eternal Reason.
62.4 Why do the ancients prize this Reason? Is it not, say, because when sought it is obtained and the sinner thereby can be saved? Therefore it is world-honored.
The Long of It:
Good and bad are distinguished by posture. The good is not afraid of bad and leans into it. The bad (disguised as good) shuns the bad and leans away from it.
During the Warring States Period1, pre-China was comprised of over a dozen warring states, and survival sometimes hinged on alliances. Fancy envoys bearing gifts for new governments (like the ones mentioned above) were common.
It’s easy for us to treat this metaphor lightly, but states’ survival depended on alliances. Showing up with nothing but a little Taoist advice might just leave your state out in the cold when invading armies showed up.
Hopefully this lends levity to what Lao Tsu is talking about; how to distinguish the good from the bad. Why do we lump praise on the praiseworthy? Is it for their benefit, or for ours?
It’s easy for us to accept the good, to reward the people we all agree are super cool. But what’s harder to do (and maybe dangerous), is to accept the bad as well. After all, who has more potential for change, and is in greater need of forgiveness, than the bad people?
Tao accepts all things and all people, the good and the bad. To accept only the good is near-sighted and clumsy.
-TB
1“Warring States Period.” Wikipedia, Jan 27, 2022. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warring_States_period
