Humili-TAO

"He who stands on tiptoe is not steady.

He who strides forward does not go.

He who shows himself is not luminous.

He who justifies himself is not prominent.

He who boasts of himself is not given credit.

He who brags does not endure for long.

From the point of view of Tao, these are like remnants of food and tumors of action,

Which all creatures detest.

Therefore, those who possess Tao turn away from them." 

                                                                                                                         Tao Te Ching, 24

Before we go on, let's clarify first why these acts (stands, strides, shows, justifies, boasts, brags) were referred as "remnants of food". Remnants, or remains, for it depicts a trace of something; an evident trace. Food, well, not literally that kind of sustenance living things intake, but food in the sense that it illustrates a 'desire', specifically a personal one. So these are, in other words, traces of personal desires. Now how about as "tumors of action". Tumor, for it portrays an disease, not of a human body, but of something that is usually on the right track but suddenly went out to be something infected; something of a bad condition. And action, the actual deeds and behaviors of moving matters, particularly human beings. In short, these are diseases of our human deeds.

How come these things/acts went out to be traces of desires yet at the same time, the diseases that our human deeds suffer? For example, standing on tiptoe, yes, it is unstable but where's the desire? Also in advancing forward, being transparent of showing others oneself, being justifiable, etc. Well, the thing is, standing on tiptoe, and all the others show a picture of self-empowerment, that's why it is of personal desires. To stand on tiptoe here means to overpower oneself up to the point that one is no longer on his level before; one increased, yet, only oneself. Such definition also goes with striding forward, which is to advance oneself from that of his previous stage. Showing and justifying oneself, again, describes conceitedness; seeing oneself proudly that one has the guts to present his self as if one is all-polished and impeccable enough to be seen by others; as if one doesn't need to be modified in such a way or many. And of course, to boast and to brag, which indubitably paints an image of superiority, not only to oneself, but to others as well, as if one is the "ONE"; the most high and mighty.

But then again, such conceitedness of these acts does not mean that such are then to be such; if they are to brag, it doesn't mean that they have really that in them to be brag about. It was even said that, actually, it reverses their so-called "to-be-proud-of" to something that is actually "to-be-ashamed-of". If one is to stand on tiptoe, one becomes unstable. If one overpowers, one loses such power; putting oneself down instead of shoving oneself up. And if one becomes too proud, one will then be mortified. Thus, indeed, a disease of one's own deeds and is probably the disease that will inflict and kill such of one's effort or achievement.

Nevertheless, it was suggested in the end that "those who possess Tao, turn away from them". Those who follow the Way, declines such acts for they know, that such decline is just for their own good as given by the Way. Therefore, they are to be humble, to be examples of humility and modesty. In somehow metaphorical words, they are to keep their mouth shut from that of the foods, for it will only provide them illness or even death; to stay humble and not to practice arrogance, for with the latter, what they can only have is what is bad for them.