Verse 39: Dull as a Common Stone

Verse Thirty-Nine
The masters of old attained unity with the Tao.
Heaven attained unity and became pure.
The earth attained unity and found peace.
The spirits attained unity so they could minister.
The valleys attained unity that they might be full.
Humanity attained unity that they might flourish.
Their leaders attained unity that they might set the example.
This is the power of unity.

Without unity, the sky becomes filthy.
Without unity, the earth becomes unstable.
Without unity, the spirits become unresponsive and disappear.
Without unity, the valleys become dry as a desert.
Without unity, human kind can't reproduce and becomes extinct.
Without unity, our leaders become corrupt and fall.

The great view the small as their source,
and the high takes the low as their foundation.
Their greatest asset becomes their humility.
They speak of themselves as orphans and widows,
thus they truly seek humility.
Do not shine like the precious gem,
but be as dull as a common stone.
~ John McDonald translation ~

Back in the 1970s, country singer Mac Davis used to sing, "Oh Lord it's hard to be humble when you're perfect in every way..." While the song itself was sung tongue-in-cheek, it does speak to the way many people like to put their humility on display. Far from genuinely being humble, it is more like a well-rehearsed "Ah shucks, ma'am" type of attitude.

Here in the first decade of the 21st century, this feigned humility is taking the world by storm. Everywhere we look there are countless businesses and individuals who go out of their way publicly to declare that each does many noble things out of public view and they wouldn't be sharing this kind of information with us, but they just thought we should know -- not that they want to be patted on the back, mind you!

A truly humble person doesn't seek accolades. He or she does what needs to be done, then moves on. The act of helping or assisting others isn't done for status, fame, fortune or any other ego-driven reason.

In a manner of speaking, a bona fide humble individual looks as dull as a common stone.