Moral Commentary (25): The Good Deed Leaves No Tracks, The Good Word Has No Flaws

The good deed leaves no tracks, the good word has no flaws (chì); the good calculation does not use counting rods; the good closure has no bolts or bars, and cannot be opened; the good knot has no ropes or ties, and cannot be untied. Therefore, the sage is always good at saving people, so there are no abandoned people; always good at saving things, so there are no abandoned things. This is called inheriting brightness. Thus, the good person is the teacher of the not-good person; the not-good person is the resource of the good person. Not valuing one's teacher, not loving one's resource, even with great wisdom, one is greatly confused. This is called the essential mystery.

Note: Those who are good at walking leave no tracks on the ground; those who are good at speaking have no loopholes in their words; those who are good at calculating do not need to use counting rods; those who are good at closing cannot be found to open; those who are good at tying knots with ropes find it difficult to find a way to untie the knots they have tied. Therefore, the sage is always good at saving people and does not abandon anyone; always good at saving things and does not easily discard items. This is called inheriting brightness. Those who are good at being human do not like to be teachers to others; those who are not good at being human like to look at people's natural endowments. Do not always think about being a teacher to others, nor be enthusiastic about others' talents. Those who are truly wise may not appear so wise; this is the true essence. [Note] It is extremely difficult to explain this clearly in modern Chinese. The meaning of 'person' in ancient times differs greatly from its modern meaning. In ancient times, 'person' did not refer to 'humanity' as a whole, but rather to 'the most precious among all beings in heaven and earth.' 'Therefore, a person is the virtue of heaven and earth, the intersection of yin and yang, the gathering of ghosts and spirits, and the essence of the five elements. Therefore, a person is the heart of heaven and earth, the beginning of the five elements, eating flavors, distinguishing sounds, wearing colors, and being born.' Thus, the Yin Fu Jing states, 'Heavenly nature is person.' Here, 'good at being human' refers to the most precious among heavenly nature. Among the four great things in the realm, humans occupy one.