Tao Te Ching Chapter 24

Translation by John H. McDonald

Those who stand on tiptoes

do not stand firmly.

Those who rush ahead

don’t get very far.

Those who try to outshine others

dim their own light.

Those who call themselves righteous

can’t know how wrong they are.

Those who boast of their accomplishments

diminish the things they have done.

Compared to the Tao, these actions are unworthy.

If we are to follow the Tao,

we must not do these things.

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Reference: Tao Te Ching