Line by Line - Verse 25, Line 19

Man takes his law from the Earth;
~ James Legge translation, from The Sacred Books of the East, 1891 ~

Man follows Earth.
~ Gia-fu Feng and Jane English translation, published by Vintage Books, 1989 ~

Humans follow the laws of Earth
~ Derek Lin translation, from Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained, published by SkyLight Paths, 2006 ~

Someone who's in touch with Tao is in touch with the earth.
~ Ron Hogan rendition, from Beatrice.com, 2004 ~

The parameters of life on earth are constrained by certain principles. Humans can't fly like birds or live in the depths of the sea. Likewise, aardvarks and daffodils can't perform brain surgery or run for elective office (though somehow shrubs can).

Each life form has a place and a role to serve.

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