Conversations of the Taoist Master Fu Hsiang

Men Chow: It is hard to see how anybody could be brave in such a world. But we can be generous in other ways - with our time and our labour for instance.

Fu Hsiang: We have limited time available to us, so that when, without reward, I place my time at another's disposal I commit an act of generosity. But now suppose I have an infinite amount of time to use because I am immortal. Suppose that I can do an infinite number of things in a second of time. In such a case, does the idea of being generous with time and effort make sense anymore?

Men Chow: No. You are right; without limits there is no virtue.

Fu Hsiang: But since virtue is only a channel for love, if I cannot display virtue, how can I display love?

Men Chow: You cannot.

Fu Hsiang: Moreover, as we said, without limits there is no self- consciousness and no other to love.

Men Chow: That is true.

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