Line by Line - Verse 56, Line 1

He who knows (the Tao) does not (care to) speak (about it);
~ James Legge translation, from The Sacred Books of the East, 1891 ~

Those who know do not talk.
~ Gia-fu Feng and Jane English translation, published by Vintage Books, 1989 ~

Those who know do not talk
~ Derek Lin translation, from Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained, published by SkyLight Paths, 2006 ~

Those who know, don't talk.
~ Ron Hogan rendition, from Beatrice.com, 2004 ~

If an individual truly grasped the breadth of Tao, what could she say about it? I mean, really?

The depths of the Grand Mystery is beyond words. It is not something that can be shared via language. It must be experienced in the most personal and intimate of ways.

When something touches any of us in the depths of our being, words fail.

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