The highest form of goodness
is not kindness or morality.
It’s inherently virtuous.

Inferior goodness can still be considered goodness,
because the acts are inherently good, but they aren’t the best.

The highest form of goodness
is known as “Wu Wei” – or being yourself –
as well as doing nothing but trusting in the divine plan that you are in the right place at the right time, simply because you’re there.

Inferior goodness lacks a sense of self. It doesn’t believe in its own wu-wei, so it pushes its own agenda, unintentionally muckin’ stuff up here and there while it pretends to be who it thinks it is.

The highest acts of benevolence occur without pretense.
In constrast, higher acts of “righteousness” are nothing but pretense.

Superior acts of morality or correct ethics occur,
And when no one responds, those ethics impose their righteous obedience.

Thus, when one loses “Tao” (the way) there is still “De” (good acts/benevolence).
One may lose the good acts!
Forsake benevolence, and righteousness still remains.
Forsake righteousness and justice, and there’s still morality and ethics.

Propriety alone: morality and ethics done because it’s the right thing to do
reduces loyalty and faith to almost nothing.
It is the beginning of disorder.

And in this stupidity – this emptiness where loyalty and faith do not exist
This tradition is the “flower” of the Tao,
its ignorant beginnings.
(Where else does the hollow begin, but in an emptiness?)

Thus, it is a Great person who dwells in the Solid and not the shadow.
She dwells in the fruit of the Tao and not in its flower,
preferring Benevolence over empty tradition,
she leaves propriety for beginners and focuses on what she can do to make things better for people now.