Daodejing Chapter 13 breakdown: favour and disgrace

Chapter 13 of the Daodejing provides a stark picture of the price you need to pay if you decide to swim in the treacherous waters of political favour as well as the inherent risks of achieving high rank. The passage advises you to free yourself from the burdens of ego and ambition to avoid the troubles associated with favour, disgrace, and status.

Section 1
Favour and disgrace
Are both cause for alarm.
High rank
Brings great trouble to self.
Favour and disgrace
Are both cause for alarm.
What does this mean?
Whenever favour is bestowed
Gaining it is a cause for alarm.
Losing it is a cause for alarm.
That is why favour and disgrace
Are both cause for alarm.

In ancient China, ministers and officials had to balance on a thin tightrope between favour and disgrace when serving at the pleasure of an all-powerful state ruler. While a victory in battle could catapult an obscure functionary to the top, a misspoken word could lead to disaster for even the most honourable and capable individuals.

It is in this context that the chapter opens with a warning that extreme situations, whether positive or negative, bring about instability and anxiety.
The desire for favour and the fear of disgrace can lead not just to severe paranoia and stress, but all types of contentious behaviour to stave off rivals.

Section 2
High rank
Brings great trouble to self.
What does this mean?
I will suffer great trouble
From high rank
Because I have self.
If I did not have self,
What trouble would I have?

Achieving positions of power and prestige can also prove to be burdensome because they tie you to intense societal expectations and responsibilities, leading to a loss of personal freedom and inner peace. The challenges and moral dilemmas you inevitably face when in a position of power, as well as the inner conflict between personal desires and public duties, can indeed be a source of “great trouble.” This is particularly true if your self-worth is bound closely to your professional and social status.

For this reason, the text suggests that you can avoid the troubles associated with favour, disgrace, and high rank by freeing yourself from the burdens of ego and ambition and living in accordance with the natural flow of the Dao.

Paradoxically, the less you are entangled in the trappings of your position’s power and prestige, the more adeptly you are likely to fulfil its duties. This detachment not only enhances your performance but also insulates you from the sting of potential dismissal. Should you be removed from your position, this lack of attachment significantly mitigates the adverse impact on your well-being.

Section 3
If you cherish
All-under-heaven
As much as self
You can be trusted
To govern it.
If you love
All-under-heaven
As much as self
You can be trusted
To take care of it.

The final section of the chapter identifies this type of selflessness as the key to trustworthy and effective leadership. It is a call for you to transcend your ego and personal interests in favour of the greater good, reflecting the importance of reaching the appropriate balance between the self and the world.

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Daodejing Chapter 13: favour and disgrace