Verse 7

Herrymon Maurer book

Heaven abides, earth lasts.
They last and abide
By not living for themselves.
Hence they live forever.
Therefore the sage
Puts himself last,
Finds himself first;
Abandons his self,
Preserves his self.
Is it not because he has no self
That he is able to realize his self?

R.L. Wing version

Heaven is eternal, the earth everyalsting.
They can be eternal and everlasting
Because they do not exist for themselves.
For that reason they can exist eternally.
Therefore, Evolved Individuals
Put themselves last,
And yet they are first.
Put themselves outside,
And yet they remain.
Is is not because they are without self-interest
That their interests succeed?

The Illustrated Tao Te Ching

Heaven and earth are enduring
The universe can live for ever,
because it does not live for itself.
And so both last-outliving themselves.
The sage guides his people
by putting himself last.
Desiring nothing for himself,
he knows how to channel desires.
And is it not because he wants nothing
that he is able to achieve everything?

Analysis

What this seems to be saying is that a person should not focus on themselves all the time, putting their needs before the needs of others. The wise leader puts the needs of his/her people before his/her own needs. The wise leader does not have any “desires.” That is, they do not want anything for themselves; they exist to serve others first, without thought of their own needs.

This is a very selfless existence.

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