what he wanted to say. So when Knowledge got no reply, he went back to the palace and asked the Yellow Emperor. The latter said, "By no thoughts, by no cogitations, Tao may be known. By resting in nothing, by according in nothing, Tao may be approached. By following nothing, by pursuing nothing, Tao may be attained."
Then Knowledge said to the Yellow Emperor, "Now you and I know this, but those two know it not. Who is right?"
"Of those two," replied the Yellow Emperor, "Do-nothing Say-nothing is genuinely right, and All-in-extremes is near. You and I are wholly wrong. Those who understand it do not speak about it, those who speak about it do not understand it.
- These words occur in the Tao-Tê-Ching, ch. vi. See also ante, p. 170.
Therefore the Sage teaches a doctrine which does not find expression in words.
- See ante, ch. v. Also The Remains of Lao Tzŭ, p. 7.
Tao cannot be made to come. Virtue cannot be reached.
- Virtue (Tê), here the exemplification of Tao.
Charity can be evoked. Duty to one's neighbour can be wrongly directed. Ceremonies are mere shams.
"Therefore it has been said, 'If Tao perishes, then Tê will perish. If Tê perishes, then charity will perish. If charity perishes, then duty to one's neighbour will perish. If duty to one's neighbour
