Chapter XVIII
(Chapter 18)

Ko Yuen Translation

The Decay of Manners

When men abandoned the Way of the Tao, benevolence and justice became necessary. Then also was need of wisdom and cunning, and all fell into illusion. When harmony ceased to prevail in the six spheres¹ it was needful to govern them by manifesting Sons². When the kingdoms and races³ became confused, loyal ministers⁴ had to appear.

S. Mitchell Translation

When the great Tao is forgotten,
goodness and piety appear.
When the body's intelligence declines,
cleverness and knowledge step forth.
When there is no peace in the family,
filial piety begins.
When the country falls into chaos,
patriotism is born.

James Legge Translation
1.	When the Great Tao (Way or Method) ceased to be observed, benevolence and righteousness came into vogue. (Then) appeared wisdom and shrewdness, and there ensued great hypocrisy.
2.	When harmony no longer prevailed throughout the six kinships, filial sons found their manifestation; when the states and clans fell into disorder, loyal ministers appeared.

GNL not Lao

Hypocrisy

When the Way is forgotten
Duty and justice appear;
Then knowledge and wisdom are born
Along with hypocrisy.

When harmonious relationships dissolve
Then respect and devotion arise;
When a nation falls to chaos
Then loyalty and patriotism are born.

Tao Teh King
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Ko Yuen Commentary
1.	The solar system. Return to text
2.	Dhyana -- buddhas. Return to text
3.	elements, signs, etc. Return to text
4.	archangels. It is hard at first for the student to grasp the disdain of Laotze for what we call good qualities. But the need for this "good" is created by the existence of "evil", i.e., the restriction of anything from doing its own will without friction. Good is then merely a symptom of evil, and so itself a poison. A man who finds Mercury and Potassium Iodide "good" for him, is a sick man. Frictionless Nourishment is the order of Change, or Life. Return to text