The Three Principle Texts of Daoism translated by ... - Bad Request

3.It was the time of autumn floods. Every stream pouredinto the river, which swelled in its turbid course. Thebanks receded so far from each other that it wasimpossible to tell a cow from a horse.Then the Spirit of the River laughed for joy that all thebeauty of the earth was gathered to himself. Down withthe stream he journeyed east until he reached the ocean.There, looking eastwards and seeing no limit to itswaves, his countenance changed. And as he gazed overthe expanse, he sighed and said to the Spirit of theOcean, “A vulgar proverb says that he who has heard butpart of the truth thinks no one equal to himself. Andsuch a one am I.”“When formerly I heard people detracting from thelearning of Confucius or underrating the heroism of PohI, I did not believe. But now that I have looked uponyour inexhaustibility--alas for me had I not reached yourabode, I should have been for ever a laughing-stock tothose of comprehensive enlightenment!"To which the Spirit of the Ocean replied: “You cannotspeak of ocean to a well-frog,--the creature of anarrower sphere. You cannot speak of ice to a summerinsect,--the creature of a season. You cannot speak ofTao to a pedagogue: his scope is too restricted. But nowthat you have emerged from your narrow sphere and have