A discussion of virtue

 

Superior virtue is unvirtue.
Therefore it has virtue.

Inferior virtue not loses virtue.

therefore it has no virtue.

Superior virtue virtue is non-action.

And it has not thereby pretensions.

Inferior virtue is acting itself,

and has thereby pretensions.

Superior benevolence is acting itself

but not thereby pretends.

Superior righteousness [justice] is acting itself 

but has thereby pretensions.

Superior propriety is acting itself 

but when no one to it responds.

Then it stretches its arms and enforces it.

Therefore when one loses reason and then [there is] virtue.

One loses virtue, and then [there is] benevolence.

One loses benevolence and then [there is] righteousness.

One loses righteousness and then [there is] propriety.

Now propriety's things [are] loyalty [and] faith 

in their attenuation and disorder in its beginning;

premature knowledge that [is] reason in its flower, 

and ignorance in its beginning.

Therefore a great large organiser [man of affairs]

dwells in its solidity [and] not abides in its externality.

He dwells in its fruit,

not abides in its flower.

Therefore he avoids the latter,

and choses the former.