Tao Te Ching – Chapter Eighty-One
Written by Lao-tzu – From a translation by S. Mitchell
True words aren't eloquent;
eloquent words aren't true.
Wise men don't need to prove their point;
men who need to prove their point aren't wise.
The Master has no possessions.
The more he does for others,
the happier he is.
The more he gives to others,
the wealthier he is.
The Tao nourishes by not forcing.
By not dominating, the Master leads.
How I Read This Chapter
Truth is plain.
It doesn’t dress itself up to impress.
Wisdom doesn’t argue.
It doesn’t need to win.
The Master holds nothing,
yet is never empty.
They give without calculation,
and in giving,
they grow richer.
They nourish without control.
They lead without wanting power.
This is the way of recovery.
What This Means To Me
In my old life, I was a talker. I could weave words to avoid responsibility, to charm, to manipulate. Eloquence became a shield and a weapon, but it was all lies. But the truth – the real truth – was often the simplest thing I could not bring myself to say, but I always struggled to speak the truth, it never came out of my mouth in any way that could be understood: I need help. I’m lost. I can’t do this alone.
Recovery has stripped away a lot of that performance and fear. In meetings, I’ve learned that it’s the plain words that land the deepest. Not the clever shares, not the well-polished wisdom, but the raw, honest sentences spoken straight from the heart.
This chapter reminds me that trying to prove my point is usually about ego. Wisdom doesn’t need to win an argument – it just is. Some of the wisest people I’ve met in recovery are the quietest ones in the room, who speak rarely but with deep sincerity.
“The Master has no possessions.” For me, this is about detachment. In sobriety, I’ve found that the less tightly I cling to things – status, stuff, even ideas – the freer I am. The richness I experience now doesn’t come from accumulation, but from connection, service, and gratitude.
“The more he does for others, the happier he is.” This is sponsorship and service in a sentence. When I’m feeling low or restless, the quickest way out is to show up for someone else – make a call, chair a meeting, wash the mugs afterwards. Service shrinks my self-absorption and reconnects me to the heartbeat of recovery.
“The Tao nourishes by not forcing.” That’s the opposite of how I used to help. I used to push, fix, and insist. Now, I try to walk alongside instead. I offer my experience without trying to control what someone else does with it. Just as others did for me, I can trust that their Higher Power will guide them in their own time.
“By not dominating, the Master leads.” In recovery, the best leaders are those who don’t chase the role – they’re simply living the programme – Fully – and showing what’s possible. No control. No ego. Just presence, honesty, and willingness.
This chapter feels like a closing reminder for the Tao: that real wealth is measured in generosity, real strength in humility, and real leadership in quiet service.
That’s how I want to live my sobriety – my life – truth over eloquence, service over self, and guidance without control.
