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Te
"Virtue" or "character." Te ordinarily means moral character but in relation to Tao it means Tao particularized when inherent in a thing. The classical definition of it is to te (attain or be able to). Arthur Waley is correct in understanding it as a latent power, a virtue inherent in something and in rendering it as "power". But "power" does not connote moral excellence which the word te involves. Both "virtue" and "character" seem to be better.
-"A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy", translated and compiled by Wing-Tsit Chan
"Virtue" or "character." Te ordinarily means moral character but in relation to Tao it means Tao particularized when inherent in a thing. The classical definition of it is to te (attain or be able to). Arthur Waley is correct in understanding it as a latent power, a virtue inherent in something and in rendering it as "power". But "power" does not connote moral excellence which the word te involves. Both "virtue" and "character" seem to be better.
-"A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy", translated and compiled by Wing-Tsit Chan
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