Lightness has its roots in heaviness. Restlessness has a master in stillness. Therefore, the Holy Man travels all day without leaving the baggage wagon. 1 Surrounded by sensuous enjoyments he remains peaceful and free.
How, then, can the Lord of ten thousand chariots 2 regard his personality as of less importance than his royal trust? By levity he will loose his ministers; by restlessness he will loose his throne.
All movement starts from rest, and is controlled by the still. It is the quiet river-bed which directs the course of the impetuous torrent. The restless wind is scattered by the passive block of masonry. It is the man whose heart is still who comes to the front as one of the world's rulers. Restlessness in the citadel of the soul will overthrow the loftiest prince. Even the Lord Jesus would have become tainted when he ate with publicans and sinners had he possessed no unchanging point of rest within. *
46:1 i.e. He never throws aside his gravity.
In the eighth chapter of the first book of the Confucian Analects we read, "Confucius remarked, If the Wise Man is not serious he will not inspire respect, nor will his learning be solid."
46:2 The reigning Sovereign.
46:* I am indebted for these thoughts to Victor von Straus. See his Laò-Tsè’s Taò Te King, in loc.