Line by Line - Verse 39, Line 19

So it is that in the enumeration of the different parts of a carriage we do not come on what makes it answer the ends of a carriage.
~ James Legge translation, from The Sacred Books of the East, 1891 ~

Too much success is not an advantage.
~ Gia-fu Feng and Jane English translation, published by Vintage Books, 1989 ~

Therefore, the ultimate honor is no honor
~ Derek Lin translation, from Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained, published by SkyLight Paths, 2006 ~

Be strong,
but pay no attention to hollow praise.
~ Ron Hogan rendition, from Beatrice.com, 2004 ~

When I read this line, the first thing that popped into my head is all the travails that young stars and celebrities encounter. From a young age, they are surrounded by sycophants, people who say Yes! to their every whim and fantasy. Is it any wonder that far too many of them lose touch with reality?

When all a person ever hears is, "You da man! You da man!" the individual comes to think of themselves as indestructible. Every crazy idea becomes doable. Is it any wonder that far too many die young of self-inflicted wounds?

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