Original Text
Not issuing commands and minimizing interference with the people aligns with nature, so even the strongest wind cannot last all morning, and the heaviest rain cannot last all day. Who creates such wind and rain? Heaven and earth. If even heaven and earth cannot sustain their fury, how much less can humans? Therefore, those who follow the Way become one with the Way; those who follow virtue become one with virtue; those who lose the Way and virtue act with violence and abandon. Those who are one with the Way are gladly embraced by the Way; those who are one with virtue are gladly embraced by virtue; those who are one with loss and abandonment meet the consequences of loss and abandonment. When rulers lack trustworthiness, the people will naturally not believe in them.
Guide
Sudden rain cannot last long, a whirlwind cannot endure; "rare speech" and "non-action" are the ways of nature. Rulers governing the people must align with the Way and virtue. Otherwise, decrees become chaotic, leading to loss of authority.
Analysis
Starting from the argument that speaking less aligns with nature, this chapter presents an important idea: a person's inner cultivation and behavior correspond to their external circumstances, and the degree to which they comprehend the Way of nature determines the reward nature bestows upon them. This is because only the Way is the sole natural entity, and the entire world is the natural manifestation of the Way. Therefore, those who align with the Way receive its reward, while those who do not align with the Way receive none.
"Rare words are natural." "Rare words" refers to seldom-used wise sayings. Further, it means not imposing decrees. What is "natural"? The term "natural" here does not refer to the natural sciences but is a philosophical term that can be interpreted as "as it is originally." Therefore, "rare words are natural" does not mean "seldom discussing theories of natural science"; it means that in governing affairs and establishing laws and regulations, one should follow the natural way. For rulers, issuing fewer orders is in harmony with the natural way. In this chapter, Laozi discusses the great significance of rulers issuing fewer orders and illustrates the point through changes in the natural world.
Therefore, a strong wind cannot last all morning, and a sudden downpour cannot last all day. A strong wind is a hurricane, also known as a typhoon. Although a hurricane is terrifying, it does not blow incessantly all day. No matter how powerful the hurricane becomes, by midday it will weaken and slow down. Thus, no strong wind remains constant throughout the morning. A sudden downpour refers to the heavy thunderstorms of the hot summer season, which typically pass in an hour or two. Therefore, the heavy thunderstorms of summer only last for a short while, not the entire day. Here, Laozi uses the causal law of natural phenomena as a metaphor to repeatedly explain that all things in the world are in a state of impermanence and change; we cannot grasp them, nor do we need to. Only one thing transcends reality, and that is nature.
"Who does this? Heaven and Earth. Even Heaven and Earth cannot last forever, let alone humans." "Heaven and Earth" refers to the entire world. "Cannot last forever" connects with the earlier phrases "not lasting a morning" and "not lasting a day," meaning it cannot be boundless and continuous. In our eyes, Heaven and Earth are mysterious and unfathomable, containing immense power. Yet even so, Heaven and Earth must follow the natural moral order. The vastness of Heaven and Earth cannot resist nature, let alone humans, who appear even smaller before them. In traditional Chinese culture, both Daoism and Confucianism hold that the entire world has a beginning and an end—there is a time when it was created and a time when it will be overturned and come to an end. Since even Heaven and Earth cannot endure forever, human life should not seek eternal permanence.
Therefore, one who follows the Way identifies with the Way; one who follows virtue identifies with virtue; one who loses both identifies with loss. "Identify" means to be in harmony and become one. These words may seem self-evident on the surface, but in fact, Laozi here elucidates the principle that like attracts like in human affairs and the nature of things. A person who delights in speaking of the Way naturally enjoys associating with those who also speak of the Way—this is "the Way identifies with the Way." In other words, if we cultivate ourselves with effort for the sake of virtue, we will find ourselves making daily progress in virtue.
Those who are in harmony with the Way, the Way is also glad to be with them; those who are in harmony with virtue, virtue is also glad to be with them; those who are in harmony with loss, loss is also glad to be with them. "Obtain" means to gain or accept, and here it can be understood as "being together." Whether cultivating or practicing the Way, one's thoughts and consciousness must align with the great Way; you will obtain what you deserve and also lose what you should lose. Be glad to obtain results that align with the Way, and be glad to abandon results that do not. One who is glad to gain must also be glad to lose, for only through loss can there be gain. The relationship between gain and loss is one of unity of opposites. Therefore, humanity must face its own power squarely and ensure that its practical activities conform to natural laws, avoiding extreme actions, or else it will never achieve the expected results. Seeking the Way is not something that can be accomplished overnight; all forms of radical behavior run counter to it. To seek and verify the Way, one must not only have sincerity but also unyielding perseverance. Practicing the Way is the same. Natural phenomena are prone to change, and human activities are even more so. In this world, few phenomena can remain constant for long; only the essence of things is eternal and unchanging. Yet, for humans to grasp the essence through phenomena is no easy task. If a person sees the essence through phenomena, then that person has attained the Way. If a person cannot grasp the essence when observing phenomena but their level of understanding is close to the essence of the Way, then that person has attained virtue. If a person can see neither the Way nor virtue, then this situation is called "loss," and that person must remain at the same level as loss. To reach the realm of the Way or virtue, one must persistently pursue the Way. That is, seeking the Way is the prerequisite for realizing the Way and virtue. If people do not pursue the Way or the essence of things, they can only remain in the category of "loss," which lies outside the essence of things.
Therefore, only by not violating the laws of nature and aligning our actions with the Way and Virtue can we gain infinite benefits; otherwise, we will not only gain nothing but also be abandoned by the great Way and great Virtue. Not following the great Way and great Virtue will inevitably lead to punishment. Humans differ from animals in having subjective initiative. When actions driven by subjective initiative conform to natural laws, people benefit from nature; when they do not, people suffer nature's punishment. Many examples prove this, such as people coveting small gains, indiscriminately logging forests, ultimately causing landslides and mudslides that destroy crops at best and cause casualties at worst. There are many such examples, which will not be listed here. In short, violating the great Way and great Virtue is equivalent to self-destruction.
Classic Analysis
This chapter and Chapter 17 correspond to each other, both concluding with "When trust is insufficient, there is distrust." Chapter 7 presents different levels of rulers to oppose making people fear them, advocating for non-action governance so that people feel "I am natural." This chapter uses the natural way of whirlwinds and sudden storms to illustrate the human way, warning rulers against imposing coercive laws and violent governance, instead promoting a policy of "tranquility and non-action" to align with natural laws and allow people to live in peace and comfort. Laozi points out that if you believe in the Tao and act accordingly, you will inevitably attain it; otherwise, you cannot.
The metaphor "A strong wind does not last all morning, a sudden rain does not last all day" is extremely vivid. It warns rulers to follow the principles of the Tao, which aligns with natural law, as implementing tyranny to maintain rule cannot endure; if rulers act arbitrarily and willfully, the people will resist them. The result of oppressive governance is that rulers lack credibility, and the common people will not trust them. When Qin Shi Huang swept through the six kingdoms, his momentum was truly grand, yet the Qin dynasty enforced tyranny with harsh laws, and the Second Emperor indulged in debauchery and extravagance, building palaces and mausoleums on a massive scale, ultimately leading to the collapse of the mighty empire. Emperor Yang of Sui inherited the Kaihuang era of prosperity, making the nation extremely powerful, but he traveled extensively, trusted sycophants, disrupted people's livelihoods, and finally sparked widespread rebellion, dying in a foreign land. Examining this closely, throughout history, both in China and abroad, every dynasty and every nation's downfall has been due to rulers not understanding the way of governing the people, causing the populace to abandon and distrust them.
At the same time, the literal interpretation of "rare speech aligns with nature" also holds significant value for self-cultivation. Ancient sayings such as "too many words lead to many mistakes," "the mouth is the gate of misfortune," and "conflicts often arise from words" all illustrate the principle of cautious speech. Laozi earlier stated, "Much talk leads to exhaustion; it is better to maintain the center." The Analects of Confucius mentions that a gentleman is "quick in action but cautious in speech," "values being slow to speak but quick to act," and "clever words and a pleasing appearance rarely accompany virtue." Although social development encourages people to express themselves well, this does not mean endless chatter. One must know when to speak and when to remain silent; otherwise, not only will a gentleman find it shameful, but it may even bring disaster upon oneself.