Stanza 23 of the Tao Te Ching offers a quiet, clear reflection on the nature of speech, impermanence, and resonance with the Way. Laozi speaks of the value of silence, the brevity of extremes in nature, and how people come to embody what they align with, whether it is the Tao, virtue, or even confusion. The final line delivers a sharp and timeless truth about trust and how its presence or absence shapes the whole.
This stanza gently encourages us to say less, flow more, and live by what we value most.
The Power of Silence
"To speak rarely is natural."
This line sets the tone for the stanza: The Tao does not chatter; it flows. To speak rarely is not to suppress communication but to honor the space between words, to speak only when needed, and to let actions, presence, and stillness do most of the talking. In Taoist thought, too much speech often leads to misunderstanding. The wisest people are often the most quietly effective. "Few words" is a sign of deep inner alignment, not of ignorance or indifference.
The Impermanence of Forceful Displays
"That is why a gusty wind doesn't last the morning, a downpour of rain doesn't last the day. Who does this? Heaven and Earth."
Laozi draws attention to the transience of intensity in nature; storms, no matter how powerful, pass quickly. Nature's pattern is cyclical, balanced, and measured. Even Heaven and Earth, vast and enduring, do not sustain extremes. The lesson: force cannot last; loudness cannot endure.
This reflects a key Taoist principle: the strong overexert, then collapse. The subtle flow naturally and, therefore, endures.
If Nature Cannot Force, How Can We?
"If even Heaven and Earth cannot go on forever, how much less can human beings!"
This is a call to humility and realism. If the grand forces of the cosmos do not operate through permanence or overexertion, why should we try to? If thunder, wind, and rain must give way to calm, then surely our speech, effort, and emotions must also rest. Lasting power lies in restraint, not in dominance. Taoism invites us to honor the natural rhythm of ebb and flow rather than trying to impose willpower over reality.
We Become What We Align With
"Therefore, those who follow the Way assimilate to the Way; the virtuous assimilate to virtue; those who have lost assimilate to loss."
This is the heart of the teaching: to follow something deeply is to become like it. We assimilate and are shaped, consciously or unconsciously, by what we give our energy to.
The Three Paths Laozi Describes:
Those who follow the Tao become attuned to its flow.
Those who pursue virtue develop character and strength.
Those who live disconnected from truth become further entangled in confusion.
Your path becomes your nature. Where your heart rests, there your life roots. This is not judgment; it is simply the law of resonance. What you seek, you become.
All Three are Content in Their Path
"Those who assimilate to the Way are happy to gain it, those who assimilate to virtue are happy to gain it, and those who assimilate to loss are also happy to gain it."
Laozi makes an unexpected observation: Even those who are lost are satisfied with their way, for it is what they know, what they have chosen (even unconsciously). This line challenges us to reflect:
Are we becoming more natural, more aligned, more true?
Or are we drifting into patterns of disconnection, busyness, and control, thinking they will bring fulfillment?
What you water will grow. Choose with care.
A Warning on Trust
"When trust is insufficient, there is distrust."
This final line cuts through the poetic display with a sharp truth about relationships and society: If we don't trust others, they begin to feel untrusted. That very lack of trust creates the conditions for deception or rebellion. It's not trust that breeds naivety but mistrust that breeds division. This is true in leadership, love, and community. Trust is not a reward; it is a seed. If planted, it grows. If withheld, the soil dries up.
Practical Application
Speak Less, Mean More
- Let your words be measured and meaningful.
- Speak from presence, not habit.
Don't Force What Won't Last
- Notice when you're pushing too hard, and remember: Storms pass. Flow returns.
Reflect on What You're Becoming
- Ask: What am I aligned with today?
- Am I resonating with the Tao, virtue, or distraction and confusion?
Let Others Be Themselves
- Don't overcorrect or control people.
- Let their nature unfold. Trust creates space for growth.
Embrace Cycles, Not Permanence
- Don't expect lasting highs or fear the lows.
- Everything passes through rhythm; honor that wave.
Stanza 23 is a subtle teaching with powerful implications:
Force fades. Silence endures.
What you follow, you become.
Mistrust creates resistance. Trust creates harmony.
In a noisy world, Laozi reminds us to speak with intention, to live in rhythm, and to become what we revere most. Choose the Tao, and the Tao chooses you. Live in resonance, and life becomes effortless. Speak rarely and say everything.