Chapter 72
Taoism — Lao-tzu and the Unnameable Way · text: Translated by James Legge (Sacred Books of the East, 1891) — Project Gutenberg eBook #216, 'The Tao Teh King' (public domain). Highlighted passages are answered beneath the text.
1When the people do not fear what they ought to fear, that which is their great dread will come on them.
2Let them not thoughtlessly indulge themselves in their ordinary life; let them not act as if weary of what that life depends on.
3It is by avoiding such indulgence that such weariness does not arise.
4Therefore the sage knows (these things) of himself, but does not parade (his knowledge); loves, but does not (appear to set a) value on, himself. And thus he puts the latter alternative away and makes choice of the former.