This chapter describes effortless mastery and non-judgmental compassion: the sage uses every person and thing as a teacher or resource, without waste, embodying deep wisdom.
Key Concepts
Goodness
救人
袭明
师资
Cite This Chapter
Laozi, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 27, "The Master's Skill", laotzu.ai: https://www.laotzu.ai/en/chapters/27/
Classical Chinese, translation, and AI reflection are shown separately; cite this chapter URL for references.
Good traveling leaves no tracks. Good speech leaves no flaws. Good counting uses no tallies. Good closing needs no lock but cannot be opened. Good binding needs no rope but cannot be undone. Therefore the sage is always good at saving people, so no one is abandoned. Always good at saving things, so nothing is wasted. This is called following the inner light. So the good person is the teacher of the bad. The bad person is the resource of the good. Not to value the teacher, not to love the resource, though clever, is great confusion. This is the essential mystery.
Deep Reflection
What is this chapter about?
This chapter describes effortless mastery and non-judgmental compassion: the sage uses every person and thing as a teacher or resource, without waste, embodying deep wisdom.
How does it relate to me?
It challenges me to see everyone I meet—even difficult people—as a teacher, and to avoid discarding anything or anyone as useless.
What should I do today?
Today, I will thank someone I usually overlook or find frustrating, recognizing their hidden gift. I will look past flaws and see what they teach me about patience.
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.
AI Modern
Good traveling leaves no tracks. Good speech leaves no flaws. Good counting uses no tallies. Good closing needs no lock but cannot be opened. Good binding needs no rope but cannot be undone. Therefore the sage is always good at saving people, so no one is abandoned. Always good at saving things, so nothing is wasted. This is called following the inner light. So the good person is the teacher of the bad. The bad person is the resource of the good. Not to value the teacher, not to love the resource, though clever, is great confusion. This is the essential mystery.
My Reflection
What does this chapter inspire in you? How will you apply it?
