Tao Te Ching

Tao Te Ching, Chapter 70

Chapter 70 of Tao Te Ching translated by James Legge (1893)

Translation

70. 1. My words are very easy to know, and very easy to practise; but there is no one in the world who is able to know and able to practise them.

2. There is an originating and all-comprehending (principle) in my words, and an authoritative law for the things (which I enforce). It is because they do not know these, that men do not know me.

3. They who know me are few, and I am on that account (the more) to be prized. It is thus that the sage wears (a poor garb of) hair cloth, while he carries his (signet of) jade in his bosom.

Practical Reading

My words are easy to know, easy to follow - yet no one knows, no one follows. In advice, simple truth often gets dismissed. What obvious thing are you overlooking?