How we cite our quotes: (Chapter. Paragraph)
Quote #1
Those whom heaven helps we call the sons of heaven. They do not learn this by learning. They do not work it by working. They do not reason it by using reason. To let understanding stop at what cannot be understood is a high attainment. Those who cannot do it will be destroyed on the lathe of heaven. — Chuang Tse: XXIII (3.0)
This quote is the epigraph to chapter 3. It comes from one of the most famous Taoist philosophers ever, but it's actually a mistranslation—head over to our "What's Up With the Title" section for more about that. But even in this translation, it's easy to see what Taoism prizes: simplicity, naturalness, and action based on following the middle path, or Tao. If you try to force things or exert your own will too strongly, you will upset the Tao, and it will come back to bite you.
Quote #2
When the Great Way is lost, we get benevolence and righteousness. — Lao Tse: XVIII (5.0)
Isn't this confusing? You'd expect negative things to happen when the Great Way is lost, but aren't benevolence and righteousness positive things? First, check out these translations. The key here is that we have to change our understanding of what these words mean. Think about Dr. Haber, for example. We're sure that he considers himself righteous and benevolent, but he also ends up almost destroying the world. So maybe what this passage is trying to tell us is that benevolence and righteousness are not necessarily positive in and of themselves, since in some contexts, they may refer to people attempting to force good things to happen. As we see with Dr. Haber and the results of his actions, that only ends up in a bad way.
Quote #3
"You speak as if that were some kind of general moral imperative." He looked at Orr with his genial, reflective smile, stroking his beard. "But in fact, isn't that man's very purpose on earth—to do things, change things, run things, make a better world?"
"No!" (6.60)
This is Dr. Haber and George speaking. Here and in other places in the novel, you could basically take these two characters as mouthpieces for Taoism (George) and Utilitarianism (Dr. Haber). So, of course, when Dr. Haber proposes that changing the world for good is the purpose of mankind, our Taoist has one answer: no.