(When) the great Tao is discarded, benevolence and righteousness emerg

俗薄 · Sú Bó

Classical Chinese Text

大道废，有仁义；智慧出，有大伪；六亲不和，有孝慈；国家昏乱，有忠臣。

Translation & Meaning

(When) the great Tao is discarded, benevolence and righteousness emerge; (when) intelligence and wisdom are born, great deception emerges; (when) there is family discord, filial piety emerges ; (when) the country is disorderly, loyal subjects emerge.

Linguistic & Character Analysis

  • 大 (dà): classical character (dà)
  • 道 (dào): The Way / Logos / to speak
  • 废 (fèi): classical character (fèi)
  • 有 (yǒu): manifest being / cosmos / to possess
  • 仁 (rén): benevolence / kindness
  • 义 (yì): classical character (yì)
  • 智 (zhì): classical character (zhì)
  • 慧 (huì): classical character (huì)
  • 出 (chū): emerge / issue forth / originate
  • 伪 (wěi): classical character (wěi)
  • 六 (liù): classical character (liù)
  • 亲 (qīn): classical character (qīn)
  • 不 (bù): not / un- / without
  • 和 (hé): accord / harmonize
  • 孝 (xiào): classical character (xiào)
  • 慈 (cí): classical character (cí)
  • 国 (guó): classical character (guó)
  • 家 (jiā): classical character (jiā)
  • 昏 (hūn): classical character (hūn)
  • 乱 (luàn): chaos / disorder / turmoil
  • 忠 (zhōng): classical character (zhōng)
  • 臣 (chén): classical character (chén)