I must remember this the next time a politician starts talking about “civility.”
When you are talking about civility, it is already empty ritual without justice, benevolence, virtue, or any way to the Way.
from Tao Te Ching, Chapter 38
故失道而後德.
失德而後仁.
失仁而後義
失義 而後禮.
夫禮者, 忠信之薄,
而亂之首.
Thus after losing the Way, virtue.
After losing virtue, benevolence.
After losing benevolence, justice.
After losing justice, ritual.
Those married to ritual are thin on loyalty and faith
and the first of chaos.
