The syntax of each sentence in the first stanza of chapter twelve are relatively similar, they start with commodities, "...colors...tones...flavors...racing and hunting...precious things," and then go on to describe the adverse effects of such luxuries, "...blind the eye...deafen the ear...dull the taste...madden the mind...lead one

The deliberately underscored number of colors, tones, and flavors (only five) accentuates how even the smallest amount of excess can be extremely detrimental. Exposure to just five varieties of seemingly benign senses could result in blindness, deafness, and tastelessness. The implication of these lines is that once having experienced commodities, acuteness of the most obvious senses is stripped of a layer that can never be reconstructed. In Taoism, awareness of surroundings is especially valued; to strip away layer of sensitivity is to take away a level of virtue.

The final line of the chapter is ambiguous but meaningful. By calling the lifestyle of the enlightened "this," it is that definition of the lifestyle is impossible, that it holds endless possibilities. Taoism maintains that something empty is far more useful that something f

Some common words found in the essay are:
Te Ching, , tao te ching, level virtue, sage philosopher master, describe adverse effects, te ching, Tao Te, material possesions, describe adverse, philosopher master, sage philosopher, chapter twelve, adverse effects, tao te, western society,
Approximate Word count = 568
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)