31
War Is Evil
Weapons are tools of destruction avoided by followers of Tao. The citizen favors the creative in time of peace; the citizen favors the destructive in time of war.
Weapons are the tools of destruction not used by people of dignity, but when their use cannot be avoided, the best policy is calm restaint.
There is no beauty in victory. Whoever calls it so delights in slaughter. Whoever delights in slaughter is not fit to rule.
32
Tao is absolute, nameless. A piece of wood, uncarved, natural, cannot be used by anyone. The leaders who can be as genuine and natural as this gain the respect of the people.
The heavens and the earth join and gentle rains fall, beyond anyone抯 command, to everyone equally.
When civilization grew, names began. With names, one should know where to stop. Whoever knows this has security.
In the world Tao is like rain that falls into the rivers and thence to the open sea.
33
One who knows others is wise; one who knows himself is wisest. One who conquers others is strong; one who conquers himself is strongest.
To be content is to be wealthy; to be dedicated is to be strong; to be genuine is to endure; to die and be remembered is to have immortality.
34
The great Tao is everywhere, on all sides. Everything derives from it; nothing is rejected by it.
Through Tao everything exists yet it does not take possession. It provides for erverything yet it does not lay claim.
Without motive it seems small. Being the source of everything it is great. Because it never claims greatness, its greatness shines brightly.
35
The world will follow, without fear of evil, serene, peaceful, secure, one who follows the great symbol of Yin-Yang.
Music and good food will stop the passing stranger, but Tao, offered by the spoken word, seems unappealing, tasteless.
Looked for, it cannot be seen; listend for, it cannot be heard; applied, it cannot be exhausted.
36
Govern Peacefully
That which is to contract is first expanded; that which is to weaken is first strengthened; that which is to be felled is first reinforced. This is subtle enlightenment.
Being gentle overcomes strength. As fish should not leave the deep, so the sharp weapons of the state should always be hidden from view.
37
Tao never acts directly; it activates erverything. If rulers would do likewise the world would improve if itself.
But when improving, motives show. These should be restrained by motiveless Yin. Motiveless Yin is free of all desire, and being free of desire is to be serene. Being serene, the world is at peace.
38
Whoever has Teh never boasts of it and so truly possesses it. Whoever has Teh and boasts of it no longer possesses it. Possessing Teh is to be serene; with little effort much is done and motives diminish. Losing Teh is to be hasty; with great effort much is wasted and motives increase.
Possessing Teh is to act out of love without ulterior motive; losing Teh is to act self?righteous with an ulterior motive.
Whe a person of high station directs but sees no following of that direction, he shows his hand and forces direction.
When Tao is lost 攃ompassion?becomes doctrine; when compassion is lost 攋ustice?becomes doctrine; when justice is lost ritual becomes doctrine; ritual is the slow loss of loyalty, the beginning of unprincipled confusion.
Foreknowledge is Tao blossoming; it is also the flower of folly. The truly wise seek the center, not the surface; take the fruit, leaving the flower. Accept one and reject the other.
39
Lead with a Deep Unity
From past ages there has been Unity: the heavens achieved it and became clear, the earth achieved it and became firm, the valleys achieved it and became fertile, the spirit achieved it and became inspired, all things achieved it and became existent, leaders achieved it and became good rulers.
Without clarity the heavens would be tempestuous, without firmness the earth would tremble, without fertility the valleys would dry up, without inspiration the spirit would be lost, without existence all things would vanish, rulers would falter and fail.
The good leaders are humble. The high are founded on the low just as a chariot is made up of many small parts.
Better to rumble like rocks (have depth) than to jingle lightly like jewels (be flighty).
40
Tao is an endless circle, ever returning; serenity is its ultimate function; everything rises from existence; existence rises from non-existence.
41
Whenever the truly wise hear of Tao they strive earnestly to use it. Whenever the mediocre hear of Tao they are aware, yet unaware of it. Whenever the stupid hear of Tao they laugh aloud at it. If it were not laughed at it would not be Tao.
Therefore it is said of Tao: enlightenment seems dullness; progress seems regression; the true path seems misleading.
The highest character seems recessive like a valley; the purest virtue seems tarnished; the most adequate seems somehow insufficient; the most firm seems frail; the most fundamental seems changeable.
Great space has no corners; great ability takes time to mature; great music is soft and mellow; great form is shapeless, contourless.
Tao is hidden; it is nameless; yet it stimulates; it brings fulfillment.
42
Out of Tao comes Unity; out of Unity comes two; from two comes three; from three all things come.
The shade of Yin is on the back of erverything; the light of Yang is on the face of everything. From their blending together balance exists in the world.
To feel unworthy, to be alone, orphaned, is greatly feared and disliked, yet statesmen claim these feelings. Loss sometimes benefits; benefits can be a loss.
Others have taught this too: the violent meet violent ends. This is a good teaching.
43
The softest will penetrate the hardest; the non?existent will penetrate the existent.
By this I know the value of being passive. This is teaching without words; achievement without direct action. In all the world few know this.
44
To have the world know of you or to know yourself, which is more important? Money or your mind, which is more valuable? Profit or loss, which is the greater evil? Overdoing leads to waste; great fortunes invite theft. Being content prevents harmful extremes. Knowing where to stop prevents danger. To know this is to endure.
45
The most perfect seems imperfect, but it endures with constancy. The greatest fullness seems empty, but it cannot be exhausted. The most straight seems twisted; the most skilled seems clumsy; the most eloquent seems awkward. Movement overcomes coldness; stillness overcomes heat. The serene and passive are guides for all.
46
Contentment
When the world follows Tao, racehorses work on farms. When the world forsakes Tao, cavalry horses practice in parks.
The greatest curse is being discontent. It is the greatest misery. The greatest sin is selfish striving. Being content with contentment is to be always satisfied.
47
One can know the world without leaving the house. One can see Tao without looking out the window. The more you study the less you know. Thus the truly wise know without traveling, perceive without seeing, achive without doing.
48
The scholar needs to know more and more each day. The follower of Tao needs to know less and less each day. By lessening knowledge one reaches serenity. With serenity everything can be done. The world is won by those who leave it alone. When one feels compelled to dominate, the world is already beyond reach.
49
The truly wise areselfless; people抯 needs are their needs.
The good are treated with goodness; the bad are also treated with goodness; this is the goodness of Teh.
The faithful are treated with faith; the faithless are also treated with faith; this is the faith of Teh.
The truly wise are peacefully and impartially. In their eyes people share a common heritage. The truly wise accept all people as their own family.
50
Life leaves and death enters. Three and ten parts accompany life; three and ten parts accompany death; three and ten parts move toward death. Why? The wear of the drive to live.
It is said that whoever realizes this is not attacked by the wild buffalo or tiger and is not vulnerable on the field of battle. The buffalo抯 horns find no place to gore; the tiger抯 claws no place to tear; the soldier抯 waepons no place to pierce. Why? Because death is not yet within reach.
--- Alternate version:
Three parts in ten accompany life; three parts in ten accompany death; three parts in ten move toward death. Why? Living tips the balance toward dying.
It is said that whoever realizes this is not attacked by the wild buffalo or tiger and is not vulnerable on the field of battle. The buffalo抯 horns find no place to gore; the tiger抯 claws no place to tear; the soldier抯 waepons no place to pierce. Why? Because death is not yet within reach.
51
Tao causes all things to exist; Teh sustains them. Reality gives them form; fate finishes them. Thus all things honor Tao and respect Teh of their own accord.
So, Tao causes all things to exist and Teh sustains them. It fosters growth, develops them, harbors them, provides shelter. It nourishes them, gives protection.
Everything exists through Tao and nothing is rejected; everything is produced through Tao but Tao is not possessive; Tao is superior but never interferes.
52
The beginning of the universe may be considered its mother. Knowing the mother the sons can be known; kowing the sons we can keep close to the mother. Thus life finds security within itself.
Eyes closed, mouth t, life is without trouble. Eyes open, busily conversant, life is without hope.
Whoever sees the most minute sees clearest. Whoever cherishes the weak has the most strength. Whoever uses enlightenment has bright vision. Thus, no harm is done. This is following Tao.
53
The Main Path of Tao
Let me walk along the main path of Tao and avoid by-paths of worthless knowledge. I would not leave this main path, so easily followed, but many people prefer the by-paths.
The palaces are well kept while fields go untilled and the granaries are empty. To wear elegant clothes, to carry a fine sword, to gorge with food and drink, to have wealth and riches, all this invites plunder. Is this not departing from Tao?
54
Whatever is firmly planted is not easily uprooted; whatever is firmly grasped is not easily loosened. Thus, generation follows generation, continuing endlessly.
Accept Tao in yourself and Teh is yours; accept Tao in the family and Teh is abundant; accept Tao in the village and Teh multiplies; accept Tao in the nation and Teh flourishes; accept Tao in the world and Teh is universal.
Therefore one can measure by Teh: by your Teh gauge the family; by the family抯 Teh gauge the village; by the village抯 Teh gauge the nation; by the nation抯 Teh gauge the world. How do I know this is so? By seeing it so!
55
Whoever has Teh is like a child; poisonous insects will not bite; wild animals will not attack; predatory birds will not strike.
Bones soft and muscles weak but gripping strongly; unconcerned about sexual relations yet with vigor at its peak; crying out all day long but not hoarse. This involves perfect harmony. Knowing harmony is to approach the eternal. Knowing the eternal is to be enlightened.
To become excitable leads to confusion; to freely vent emotions is to be aggressive. Things reach their prime and then decline. To be impatient is to oppose Tao; whatever opposes Tao dies young.
56
Whoever knows does not speak; whoever speaks does not know. So, stop the senses. Close their doors. Ignore their riddles. Subdue their light. Be one with humble dust. This is the mystic unity.
It is beyond love and hate, beyond profit and loss, beyond honor and dishonor. Thus, it is the most valuable treasure in all the world.
57
Be Lawful, Not Full of Laws
Rule by what is right. Wage war by clever strategy. Win the world by being passive. How do I know? By this: more restritions mean weaker people; more weapons mean a troubled state; more cunning means many surprises; more laws mean violators. Therefore be passive and the people will be peaceful; be serene and the people will be pricipled; be reserved and the people will be wealthy; be selfless and the people will be simple and serene.
58
To Govern Be Gentle
Govern passively, the people are happy. Govern precisely, the people are restless. Happiness arises from unhappiness; unhappiness lies beneath happiness. Who knows what is best? When the state is self?righteous, self?righteousness becomes strategy and good becomes evil. Man has long been misguided. The truly wise are: square (sharp-cornered) but nut cutting; angled (wedge-like) but not interfering; straight (pointed) but not domineering; bright (enlightened) but not binding.
59
With Tao You Are Supreme
In ruling men be reserved. To be reserved is to conform to Tao; to conform to Tao is to achieve Teh; with Teh anything is possible; because anything is possible, no one knows your supremacy; because no one knows your supremacy, a nation can be ruled well; because this is a Mother Principle it long endures; therefore you are as deeply rooted and as immortal as it is.
60
Do But Never Overdo
Rule a great state as you cook a small fish: do not overdo it!
Rule with Tao and evil departs. Evil will still have power, but it will not harm the people. Then not only does evil cease to do harm, the ruler also ceases to do harm, and therefore both possess Teh.
61
The Tao of Statecraft
A great nation is one to which the streams descend. It is the meeting place, the female of the world. Quiet, passive, overcoming the male ba humble submission.
A great nation lowers itself to the smaller and thus wins the smaller nation; a smaller nation lowers itself beneath the greater and thus wins the greater nation. So, some lower themselves to win others; some are already low, and therefore win others.
A great nation wants more people; a small nation wants more room. When both are dedicated to these ends, the greater nation should humbly yield.
62
Tao is at the source of everything: treasure for the good; refuge for the bad. Fine words can be sold; fine deeds can be but a show. Why, then, refuge the bad?
Therefore, at the crowning of the emperor or at the appointment of the three ministers, rather than present gifts of jade and hourses, present the gift of Tao.
Why did the ancients value Tao so? Did they not say the seeker shall find it; the sinner shall find it and be forgiven? So is it the treasure of the world.
