Something in life reaches out in each of these directions, and Chinese civilization would certainly have been poorer if either had not appeared. For all who quicken at the thought that anywhere, at every time, the Tao is within us, the Tao Te Ching is such a book. Though obviously never practiced to perfection, its lessons of simplicity, openness, and wisdom have been for millions of Chinese a joyful guide. It stands alone and it does not change. It moves around and around, but does not on this account suffer.
All life comes from it.
I do not know its name, and so I call it Tao, the Way, and I rejoice in its power. Copyright 1991 by Houston Smith. Published by HarperCollins. Buy the book here.