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The
skilful traveller leaves no traces of his wheels or
footsteps; the skilful speaker says nothing that can be
found fault with or blamed; the skilful reckoner uses no
tallies; the skilful closer needs no bolts or bars, while to
open what he has shut will be impossible; the skilful binder
uses no strings or knots, while to unloose what he has bound
will be impossible. In the same way the sage is always
skilful at saving men, and so he does not cast away any man;
he is always skilful at saving things, and so he does not
cast away anything. This is called 'Hiding the light of his
procedure.'
Therefore
the man of skill is a master (to be looked up to) by him who
has not the skill; and he who has not the skill is the
helper of (the reputation of) him who has the skill. If the
one did not honour his master, and the other did not rejoice
in his helper, an (observer), though intelligent, might
greatly err about them. This is called 'The utmost degree of
mystery.'
-
Holy Tao Te Ching, 27
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