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Daoism -> Zhuangzi -> Outer Chapters -> Webbed Toes -> 2

And moreover, in employing the hook and line, the compass and square, to give things their correct form
you must cut away portions of what naturally belongs to them;
in employing strings and fastenings, glue and varnish to make things firm,
you must violently interfere with their qualities.
The bendings and stoppings in ceremonies and music,
and the factitious expression in the countenance of benevolence and righteousness,
天下 in order to comfort the minds of men
- these all show a failure in observing the regular principles (of the human constitution).
天下 All men are furnished with such regular principles;
and according to them
what is bent is not made so by the hook,
nor what is straight by the line,
nor what is round by the compass,
nor what is square by the carpenter's square.
Nor is adhesion effected by the use of glue and varnish,
nor are things bound together by means of strings and bands.
天下 Thus it is that all in the world are produced what they are by a certain guidance,
while they do not know how they are produced so;
and they equally attain their several ends
while they do not know how it is that they do so.
Anciently it was so, and it is so now; and this constitution of things should not be made of none effect.
Why then should benevolence and righteousness be employed as connecting (links), or as glue and varnish, strings and bands,
and the enjoyment arising from the Dao and its characteristics be attributed to them?
使天下It is a deception practised upon the world.
Where the deception is small, there will be a change in the direction (of the objects pursued);
where it is great, there will be a change of the nature itself.
How do I know that it is so?
天下 Since he of the line of Yu called in his benevolence and righteousness to distort and vex the world,
天下 the world has not ceased to hurry about to execute their commands
与?- has not this been by means of benevolence and righteousness to change (men's views) of their nature?


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