Ready for a dose of the Tao? I came across a yellowed dog-eared book called, “The Tao Speaks. Lao-Tzu’s Whispers of Wisdom.” By chance the book fell open at the chapter on Virtue where it boldly proclaimed: “A virtuous person is like water and its special characteristics.” Are you as curious as I was to explore this analogy and its meaning?

A VIRTUOUS PERSON IS LIKE WATER AND ITS SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS

“ONE Water nurtures the myriad things. Virtuous people give generously of themselves with no expectation of reward.

TWO Water is naturally pliant – flowing where nature takes it. Virtue takes on all shapes without contention.

THREE Water resides in low places, yet it is deep and still. Virtuous people are profound and calm. Humbly, they place themselves below others.

FOUR Water provides an accurate reflection of things. Virtuous people are honest and undeceiving in both words and deeds."

It’s refreshing to know what virtue meant 2400 years ago, and Lao-Tzu uses the water analogy to define clear boundaries of understanding for us. Today virtue is an old fashioned term. We’re more likely to use descriptors like integrity, honesty, morality, or ethics instead. Perhaps there are poetic analogies for these words that also capture the subtle yet robust distinctions Lao-Tzu offers us.

But Lao-Tzu is not done. He goes on to add:

INTENTIONAL VIRTUE IS NOT VIRTUE

We all have intentions of being moral, trustworthy, courageous, compassionate, and caring. But virtue is not simple honesty; it’s having a bias for telling the truth. It’s being at peace in the face of criticism, disgrace, and embarrassment. It’s having courage to be right or wrong without defenses. When virtue is at stake, it’s not seeing risk in the loss of friends, family, or position.

Intention may be a good place to begin, but virtue is more than a learned set of skills. The true meaning of virtue is to hold fast to your values – while simultaneously holding them loosely.

Measured against the four characteristics of water – nurturing, compliant, humble, and undeceiving – can we claim to be virtuous?

I have lots to contemplate!

Sources: The Tao Speaks. Lao Tzu’s Whispers of Wisdom, theguardian.com, leadershipnow.com.