Tao Te Ching Chapter 54

The Short of It:

You are what you teach. 

54. Cultivating and Observing. 

The good planter ([those who plant] virtue) never uproots. The good embracer ([those who embrace] virtue) never lets go. [Their children and grandchildren] will offer sacrifice to [them] without ceasing. 

Whoever cultivates this in [their] person, [their] virtue will be true. Whoever cultivates this in [their] family, [their] virtue will be abundant. Whoever cultivates this in [their] village, [their] virtue will extend. Whoever cultivates this in [their] kingdom, [their] virtue will be exuberant. Whoever cultivates this in the world, [their] virtue will be universal. 

Therefore by observing myself I know others; by observing my family, other families; by observing one kingdom, other kingdoms; by observing the existing world, other worlds. How do I know the natural course of events in the world, but in this way? 

Lau Tsze. Chalmers, John. The Speculations on Metaphysics, Polity, and Morality, of “the Old Philosopher,” Lau-tsze, Translated from the Chinese, with an Introduction by J. Chalmers. United Kingdom: Trübner, 1868.

54. To Cultivate Intuition. 

The thing that is well planted is not easily uprooted. The thing that is well guarded is not easily taken away. If one has [children] and [grandchildren], the offering of ancestral worship will not soon cease. 

[Those] who [practice] Tao in [their] person [show] that [their] teh is real. The family that practices it shows that their teh is abounding. The township that practices it shows that their teh is enduring. The state that practices it shows that their teh is prolific. The empire that practices it reveals that teh is universal. Thereby one person becomes a test of other persons, one family of other families, one town of other towns, one county of other counties, and one empire of all empires. 

How do I know that this test is universal? By this same Tao. 

Laotzu. Goddard, Dwight; Reynolds, Mabel E.; Borel, Henri. Laotzu’s Tao and Wu Wei. United Kingdom: Brentano’s, 1919.

54. The Cultivation of Intuition.

	54.1
		 “What is well planted is not uprooted; 
		What’s well preserved can not be looted!”

54.2 By [children] and [grandchildren] the sacrificial celebrations shall not cease. 

	54.3 
		Who cultivates Reason in [their] person, [their] virtue is genuine. 
		Who cultivates it in [their] house, [their] virtue is overflowing. 
		Who cultivates it in [their] township, [their] virtue is lasting. 
		Who cultivates it in [their] country, [their] virtue is abundant. 
		Who cultivates it in the world, [their] virtue is universal. 

	54.4 Therefore, 
		By one’s person one tests persons. 
		By one’s house one tests houses. 
		By one’s township one tests townships. 
		By one’s country one tests countries. 
		By one’s world one tests worlds. 

54.5 How do I know that the world is such? Through IT. 

Lao-tze. Suzuki, D.T. and Carus, Paul. The Canon of Reason and Virtue: Lao-tze’s Tao Teh King. United States: Open court publishing Company, 1913.

The Long Of It:

The ends never justify the means, because you get what you put out in the world. Cultivate your virtues (values) and watch them spread. Dictate virtues (values) and prepare to receive dictation. 

Don’t let other people (or nations) lure you into acting rashly. Stick to your values, and teach by example. 

Like Chapter 42, this paradox is self-proving.

-TB