23: Deprived of Deprivation

23

To be of few words is natural.
Strong winds do not last all morning,
Hard rains do not last all day.
What cause them?
Heaven and Earth.
If Heaven and Earth are unable to persist,
How could man?
Those who follow the Way are one with the Way.
Those who live virtuously are one with virtue.
Those who deprive themselves are one with deprivation.
Those who are one with the Way are welcomed by the Way.
Those who are one with virtue are welcomed by virtue.
Those who are one with deprivation are deprived of deprivation.
Those who do not show trust will not be trusted.

Deprived of Deprivation

Greed and excess are not kindly treated by nature. Every culture contains several examples of this in myths, fables, and historical records...

Here is my full commentary on this Tao Te Ching chapter:
Tao Te Ching Chapter 23 Translation and Commentary