Chapter 17

✦ ─── ⟐ ─── ✦

The best superior:
Their inferior knows only that they exist

Next best,
They are adored like kin

Next best,
They are revered with awe

Next best,
They are despised

When trust is not enough
How could there be any trust?

Keep your distance!
It's costly to speak

The deed is done, the duty fulfilled
And all the people say "I am just me"


太上,下知有之
其次,親而譽之
其次,畏之
其次,侮之

信不足焉
有不信焉

悠兮其貴言

功成事遂
百姓皆謂我自然