If the Great Way perishes there will morality and duty. When cleverness and knowledge arise great lies will flourish. When relatives fall out with one another there will be filial duty and love. When states are in confusion there will be faithful servants.

In the quote "If the Great Way perishes there will morality and duty. When cleverness and knowledge arise, great lies will flourish. When relatives fall out with one another, there will be filial duty and love. When states are in confusion, there will be faithful servants," Lao Tzu, the ancient Chinese philosopher and founder of Taoism, reflects on the consequences of societal imbalance and the loss of natural harmony. The Great Way, or Tao, represents the natural order and the path of virtue. Lao Tzu suggests that when this fundamental harmony breaks down, human beings begin to rely on constructed values, such as morality and duty, that are often imposed rather than arising from a deeper, natural sense of goodness.

Lao Tzu critiques the rise of cleverness and knowledge, arguing that when these are elevated above wisdom, they can lead to great lies and manipulation. In his philosophy, wisdom comes from an alignment with the Tao, which is simple and natural, while cleverness and knowledge often lead to complexity and deceit. When people prioritize intellect over wisdom, they create artificial systems and ideologies that distort truth and foster dishonesty.

The quote also speaks to the tension within human relationships. Filial duty and love arise in response to relatives falling out with each other, implying that when familial bonds weaken, society compensates by emphasizing formalized duties or moral codes. Similarly, in times of state confusion or political instability, the need for faithful servants becomes more pronounced. Lao Tzu points out that the breakdown of natural harmony leads people to emphasize external measures of order, like loyalty and obedience, rather than fostering inner peace and understanding.

Ultimately, this quote reflects Lao Tzu's belief that when the Great Way is lost, people turn to artificial systems of control and moral codes that are less authentic and more prone to corruption. It suggests that true virtue, love, and loyalty emerge naturally when in harmony with the Tao, but in its absence, these qualities must be forced and often result in superficial or misguided expressions. The quote is a reminder of the importance of maintaining a connection to deeper, natural principles rather than relying on external constructs to create order and morality.