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THE TEXTS OF TÂOISM.
if he shoots birds and hunts beasts, unearths the burrowing insects and frightens roosting birds, blocks up the dens of animals and overturns nests, hurts the pregnant womb and breaks eggs; if he wishes others to have misfortunes and losses ; and defames the merit achieved by others; if he imperils others to secure his own safety; diminishes the property of others to increase his own ; exchanges bad things for good ?; and sacrifices the public weal to his private advantage; if he takes credit to himself for the ability of others; conceals the excellences of others; publishes the things discreditable to others; and searches out the private affairs of others; leads others to waste their property and wealth ; and causes the separation of near relatives 2; encroaches on what others love; and assists others in doing wrong; gives the reins to his will and puts on airs of majesty ; puts others to shame in seeking victory for himself; injures or destroys the growing crops of others; and breaks up projected marriages; if becoming rich by improper means makes him proud; and by a peradventure escaping the consequences of his misconduct, he yet feels no shame; if he owns to favours (which he did not confer), and puts off his errors (on others); marries away (his own) calamity to another, and sells (for gain) his own wickedness; purchases for himself empty praise ; and keeps hidden dangerous purposes in his heart; detracts from the excel
has Insults and oppresses (those who have attained to the practice of) Truth and Virtue.'
It is a serious mistranslation of this which Mr. Balfour gives :"returns evil for good,' as if it were the golden rule in its highest expression.
* Literally, 'separates men's bones and flesh,'
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