When the Tao is lost, there is goodness.
When goodness is lost, there is morality.
When morality is lost, there is ritual.
Ritual is the husk of true faith,
the beginning of chaos.
(#38, S. Mitchel translation of Tao Te Ching)
When they lose their sense of awe,
people turn to religion.
When they no longer trust themselves,
they begin to depend upon authority.
(#72; s. mitchel translation of Tao Te Ching)
and another take on #38, but from a different translation
(translation by Gia-fu Feng and Jane English)
"A truly good man is not aware of his goodness
And is therefore good
A foolish man tries to be good
And is therefore not good"
reflections on the Tao Te Ching
