Line by Line - Verse 23, Lines 17-18

and those with whom he agrees in their failure have also the happiness of attaining (to the Tao).
~ James Legge translation, from The Sacred Books of the East, 1891 ~

When you are at one with loss,
The loss is experienced willingly.
~ Gia-fu Feng and Jane English translation, published by Vintage Books, 1989 ~

Those who are with loss, loss is also please to have them
~ Derek Lin translation, from Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained, published by SkyLight Paths, 2006 ~

(No corresponding line)
~ Ron Hogan rendition, from Beatrice.com, 2004 ~

I'll be quite candid. I was a bit unsure what these two lines meant until I referred to the wonderful book by Derek Lin. So, I'll step out of the way to let him explain it.

These lines are a way to describe the law of cause and effect. The function of the Tao is indifferent and will let us reap what we sow. Whether it is the Tao, virtue, or loss, we become what we think about.

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