# Trustworthiness and contribution: summary

Contrasts trustworthy and embellished words and describes contributing without contention.

https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/laozi/chapter-81-trustworthiness-and-contribution

## Source and summary

[Laozi · Dao De Jing · Trustworthiness and contribution](https://zh.wikisource.org/w/index.php?title=%E9%81%93%E5%BE%B7%E7%B6%93%20%28%E7%8E%8B%E5%BC%BC%E6%9C%AC%29&oldid=2354026#%E5%85%AB%E5%8D%81%E4%B8%80%E7%AB%A0)

> 信言不美，

Contrasts trustworthy and embellished words and describes contributing without contention.

## Editorial interpretation

The example below adapts this chapter’s questions to modern work. Evaluate it against the actual purpose and conditions; ancient politics, warfare or ethics do not establish business results.

## Business application

In sales and reporting, present verifiable facts, conditions and the next available action instead of ornate claims.

1. Choose one relevant case and record its objective, available resources, verified facts and unknowns.
2. Compare options using this chapter’s perspective; choose a limited trial, owner, deadline and a measure to assess the result.

Deliverable: A comparison using trustworthiness and contribution, with conditions for acting or declining.

## Limits

The summary selects main points rather than translating every sentence. The example is not a demonstrated business method; check it against stakeholders’ conditions and actual evidence.

## Validation question

How does this chapter’s perspective change the selected option or priority, and what further evidence could change the decision?

[Laozi: a guide to the Dao De Jing](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/laozi)

[This material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/laozi/chapter-81-trustworthiness-and-contribution.en.md)

Updated: 2026-10-13 · v1.0.0