When people persist in ignorance and fearlessness, great calamity approaches. Practice moderation in daily living; Preserve the life-sustaining environment. Thus we avoid bitter consequences and cosmic retribution.
When the people do not fear what they ought to fear, that which is their great dread will come on them.
Let them not thoughtlessly indulge themselves in their ordinary life; let them not act as if weary of what that life depends on.
It is by avoiding such indulgence that such weariness does not arise.
Therefore the sage knows (these things) of himself, but does not parade (his knowledge); loves, but does not (appear to set a) value on, himself. And thus he puts the latter alternative away and makes choice of the former.
The Sage, selfless and egoless, perceives all phenomena as equal in the Dao. They possess self-awareness yet never deem themselves superior; They embody self-respect yet claim no nobility.
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