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The world around me teems with cleverness；
I alone retreat into dullness。
With what fathomless depth；
Like a sea…born whirlpool of sound and storm；
Do they ponder and debate…
Ceaseless； directionless； and adamant…
But I alone am obtuse； disturbed； thickheaded；
Like some coarse cloth； unrefinable
And therefore worthless。
Yes； I am different； as are my values：
For I drink from the breast of the Sublime Mother。
21
The greatness of modesty is fulfilled
In harmony with the Cosmic Source。
Its nature seems elusive； ephemeral；
It is evanescent； indefinable；
But only because its action is unforced。
It is the very center of the self；
Yet we don抰 know where it is。
It is the active voice of being：
Formless； and impenetrable to thought；
Yet manifest in every natural act
Through the furthest memory of Time。
It never arrives； never departs；
Its expression fulfills Nature。
It is the child of discernment；
The parent of action。
By what do I know this Essence？
From the formless truth within me。
In this poem； Lao Tzu introduces the concept of Te； or； as I have been guided to render it； the cosmic principle of Modesty。 It is a principle that informs natural action； of inner clarity that is inseparable from the outer movement or activity that it inspires。 This outer movement is known as wu…wei； or unforced action。 It comes from 〃the very center of the self；〃 where the accretions and distortions of belief and analysis do not exist。
Te is the point at which the Sage； the teaching heart of the Cosmic Whole； intersects with and expresses our deepest true nature。 You can't pin it down with definitions because it isn't fixed or formed； it gently and playfully eludes the clutches and machinations of ego （thus； the gentle humor of this poem； and others following； in which the poet sings of Te）。
Te is neither attainment nor achievement； because it has never been apart from us： how can you attain something that you've always had； and how can you achieve something that you have always been？ It speaks clearly； but does not persuade； it works； but does not strive。 Modesty is not the shrinking violet of consciousness； as it is often represented culturally （〃rather shy〃 is one definition of modesty in the Oxford American Dictionary）。 The modesty that Lao Tzu is encouraging us to discover is expression and action molded from the personal and formless truth within： it is nothing less （or more） than the manifestation of Tao。
22
Yield to the outer； and you remain
Firm and complete within。
Appear crooked to others；
But be straight and true within。
Empty yourself； and be made full；
Strip yourself of excess
And you will know true rejuvenation。
Thus does diminishment attract abundance；
While accumulation nurtures conflict。
Therefore the student of the Sage
Holds humility in his arms；
It protects and supports him。
In refusing to display his insight；
He validates his true nature。
He takes no credit； and makes no claim；
His dignity is his only luster。
Therefore； he neither boasts nor flatters。
He seeks no merit；
Pursues no goal；
Accepts no praise；
And thus he enduringly succeeds。
He contends not with man or nature；
And so no one can defeat him。
Thus the ancient teaching lives
Within this very moment：
揇rop your burden； abandon the superficial；
And you will find your perfect center。？br》 This was not a shallow teaching。
Release your true nature；
Express your inner being；
Return to the Source。
This is all I have to teach。
23
Be sparing in your speech；
And then return to silence。
Be truly a part of Nature：
Its storm…brought winds do not outlast the dawn；
Its rain drums and sings upon the thirsty earth；
And then the clouds recede before the sun。
What made this dance of sound and silence？
If the Cosmic Consciousness thus ebbs and flows；
Why not we； the word…drunk wanderers of this world？
Therefore； the student of the Sage
Steps mindfully through his life：
He allows the Cosmic Voice
To speak through his actions；
And so he need not talk himself。
Modesty is the golden thread of the Cosmic tapestry。
It is the active mode of Nature：
The breath of bliss in life。
Modesty acts through renunciation：
It abandons identification。
In exploding the image；
It liberates the self。
In dropping comparison；
It inaugurates autonomy and lets loose joy。
As you learn； ask yourself：
揑s my life founded on mere faith；
Or rooted in the natural experience
Of my inner being？？br》
24
Standing on tiptoe；
You are easily knocked off balance。
Striding forth in grim pursuit；
You make little progress。
To affect luminosity
Is to dull your natural light。
Dig in your heels；
And you will never endure。
Display yourself；
And you accomplish nothing。
For the mildest conceit reveals the ego…
The parasite of true nature；
A consumptive； gnawing burden…
It is disdained by the Sage。
Rejecting the ego； the Sage reveals
The quiet autonomy of true being。
This verse is about the inner and outer signs of that 〃parasite of true nature；〃 the ego。 Wherever a person is engaged in self…display； the striving after fame； or the ideological rigidity of position…taking； the ego is present。 〃Standing on tiptoe〃 can also refer to the attitude of the gossip…addict： a person who strives to be 〃in the know〃 or to have 〃inside information；〃 usually about matters that are properly none of his business。 In Lao Tzu's time； as in ours； the halls of government； workplaces； and the media were saturated with such idlers。 Perhaps in no other arena is the petty inanity of the hunger for superiority exposed； as the poet also mentions in Chapter 20。
Apart from its outward marks； the ego can be detected inwardly as well： it is 〃a consumptive； gnawing burden；〃 one that can； the poet suggests； be felt physically； from within one's organic nature。 Once the student discovers the signs of ego and can learn to recognize them within himself and in others； he can begin the practice of diminishment梩he process of deconstructing the ego's false beliefs and artificial hierarchies。
25
There is something whole and formless；
That existed before any universe was born。
It makes no sound；
Has no substance；
Can抰 be fixed in time or space…
It is inexhaustible； unchanging； perduring：
It is the uterus of being；
And I call it Tao；
Just so it has a home in my mind。
It may also be called the great；
Since all beings arise from it；
And it is the home to which they return。
Nature is great；
The sky is great；
The earth is great；
Even humans can be great。
These four great presences
Are not to be separated…
They work correctly only as One。
Humans： honor the earth…
As the