75
If the people are hungry, it is because the prince eats up excessive sums of money (which he extorts from them).
If the people are restive, it is because the prince does too much, (indisposes them by his innovations).
If the people expose themselves lightly to death (in hazardous enterprises), it is because he loves life too much, (love of well-being, of pleasure, of fame). He who does nothing in order to live, is wiser than he who harms himself in order to live.
76
When a man is born he is supple and weak (but full of life); he becomes strong and powerful, and then he dies.
It is the same for plants, delicate (herbaceous) at first, then becoming woody at the time of their death.
He who is strong and powerful is marked for death; he who is weak and flexible is marked for life.
The great army will be defeated. The great tree will be cut down.
Everything that is strong and great is in a poorer condition. The advantage is always with the supple and the weak.
77
Heaven acts (with regard to men) like the archer who, bending his bow, makes the convexities straight and the concavities bulge, diminishing the greater and augmenting the lesser. (Lowering the higher, and raising the lower).
It takes away from those who have plenty, and adds to those who have little. Whereas men (bad princes who bleed the people) do quite the opposite, taking away from those who lack (the people), in order to add to those who have in abundance (their favourites) ...
Any superfluity ought to come back to the empire (to the people), but only he who possesses the Principle is capable of that.
The Sage conforms himself to the Principle. He influences without attributing the result to himself. He accomplishes without appropriating his work to himself. He does not claim the title of the Sage, (but keeps himself in voluntary obscurity).
78
In this world there is nothing more supple and weak than water; and yet no one, however strong and powerful he may be, can resist its action (corrosion, wear, wave action); and no being can do without it ( for drinking, growth, etc.).
Is it clear enough that weakness is worth more than strength, that suppleness can overcome rigidity? - Everyone agrees with this; but no one acts according to it.
The Sages have said: "He who rejects neither moral filth nor political evil is capable of becoming the chief of a territory or the sovereign of the empire." (He who is supple enough to accommodate himself to all that; and not a rigid and systematic person). These words are quite true, even though they offend many.
79
When the principle of a dispute has been settled (some accessory grievances) always remain, and things do not return to the state they were in before, (bruises remain).
(Therefore the Sage never questions it, despite his right). Keeping his half of the agreement, he does not exact the execution (of what is written).
He who knows how to conduct himself after the Virtue of the Principle, lets his written agreements sleep. He who does not know how to conduct himself thus, exacts his due.
Heaven is impartial. (If it were capable of some partiality), it would give advantage to good people, (those who act as in C. It would overwhelm them, because they ask for nothing).
80
If I were king of a little state, of a little people, I would take care to use (put in charge) the few dozen capable men that this state would contain.
I would prevent my subjects from traveling, by making them fear possible accidental death so much that they would not dare climb into a boat or carriage. I would prohibit all use of weapons.
As for writing and calculating, I would oblige them to go back to knotted cords. Then they would find their food tasty, their clothes fine, their houses peaceful, and their manners and customs agreeable.
(I would prevent curiosity and communication to the point where) my subjects would hear the noise of the cocks and dogs of the neighbouring state, but die from old age without having crossed the border and had relationships with the people there.
81
(I have finished. Perhaps you may find my discourse lacks something, is not very subtle, and is scarcely wise). This is because native frankness does not dress itself up,
natural directness avoids quibbling,
common sense can dispense with artificial erudition.
The Sage does not hoard, but gives. The more he does for men, the more he can do; the more he gives them, the more he has.
Heaven does good to all, doing no evil to anyone. The Sage imitates it, acting for the good of all, and opposing himself to no one.
English_Wing_TTK
Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse
Chinese - English by
R.L. Wing, 1986
1
The Beginning of Power
The Tao that can be expressed
Is not the Tao of the Absolute.
The name that can be named
Is not the name of the Absolute.
The nameless originated Heaven and Earth.
The named is the Mother of All Things.
Thus, without expectation
One will always perceive the subtlety;
And, with expectation
One will always perceive the boundary.
The source of these two is identical,
Yet their names are different.
Together they are called profound,
Profound and mysterious,
The gateway to the Collective Subtlety.
2
Using Polarity
When all the world knows beauty as beauty,
There is ugliness.
When they know good as good,
Then there is evil.
In this way
Existence and nonexistence produce each other.
Difficult and easy complete each other.
Long and short contrast each other.
Pitch and tone harmonize each other.
Future and past follow each other.
Therefore, Evolved Individuals
Hold their position without effort,
Practice their philosophy without words,
Are a part of All Things and overlook nothing.
They produce but do not possess,
Act wihtout expectation,
Succeed wtihout taking credit.
Since, indeed, they take no credit, it remains with them.
3
Keeping Peace
Do not exalt the very gifted,
And people will not contend.
Do not trasure goods that are hard to get,
And people will not become thieves.
Do not focus on desires,
And people's minds will not be confused.
Therefore, Evolved Individuals lead others by
Opening their minds,
Reinforcing their centers,
Relaxing their desires,
Strengthening their characters.
Let the people always act without strategy or desire;
Let the clever not venture to act.
Act without action,
And nothing is without order.
4
The Nature of the Tao
The Tao is empty and yet useful;
Somehow it never fills up.
So profound!
It resembles the source of All Things.
It blunts the sharpness,
Unties the tangles,
And harmonizes the brightness.
It identifies with the ways of the world.
So deep!
It resembles a certain existence.
I do not know whose offspring it is,
This Image in front of the source.
5
Holding to the Center
Heaven and Earth are impartial;
They regard All Things as straw dogs.
Evolved Individuals are impartial;
They regard all people as straw dogs.
Between Heaven and Earth,
The space is like a bellows.
The shape changes,
But not the form.
The more it moves,
The more it produces.
Too much talk will exhaust itself.
It is better to remain centered.
6
Perceiving the Subtle
The mystery of the valley is immortal;
It is known as the Subtle Female.
The gateway of the Subtle Female
Is the source of Heaven and Earth.
Everlasting, endless, it appears to exist.
Its usefulness comes with no effort.
7
The Power of Selflessness
Heaven is eternal., the Earth everlasing.
They can be eternal and everlasting
Because they do not exist for themselves.
For that reason tehy can exist eternally.
Therefore, Evolved Individuals
Put themselves last,
And yet they are first.
Put themselves outside,
And yet they remain.
Is it not because they are without self-interest
That their interests succeed?
8
Noncompetitive Values
The highest value is like water.
The value in water benefits All Things,
And yet it does not contend.
It stays in places that others disdain,
And therefore is close to the Tao.
The value in a dwelling is location.
The value in a mind is depth.
The value in relations is benevolence.
The value in words is sincerity.
The value in leadership is order.
The value in work is competence.
The value in effort is timeliness.
Since, indeed, they do not contend,
There is no resentment.
9
Transcending Decline
Holding to fullness
Is not as good as stopping in time.
Sharpness that probes
Cannot protect for long.
A house filled with riches
Cannot be defended.
Pride in wealth and position
Is overlooking one's collapse.
Withdrawing when success is achieved
Is the Tao in Nature.
10
Inner Harmony
In managing your instincts and embracing Oneness,
Can you be undivided?
In focusing your Influence,
Can you yield as a newborn child?
In clearing your insight,
Can you become free of error?
In loving people and leading the organization,
Can you take no action?
In opening and closing the gateway to nature,
Can you not weaken?
In seeing clearly in all directions,
Can you be wtihout knowledge?
Produce things, cultivate things;
Produce but do not possess.
Act without expectation.
Advance without dominating.
These are called the Subtle Powers.
11
Using What Is Not
Thirty spokes converge at one hub;
What is not there makes the wheel useful.
Clay is shaped to form a vessel;
What is not there makes the vessel useful.
Doors and windows are cut to form a room;
What is not there makes the room useful.
Therefore, take advantage of what is there,
By making use of what is not.
12
Controlling the Senses
The five colors will blind one's eye.
The five tones will deafen one's ear.
The five flavors will jade one's taste.
Racing and hunting will drange one's mind.
Goods that are hard to get will obstruct one's way.
Therefore, Evolved Individuals
Regard teh center and not the eye.
Hence they discard one and receive the other.
13
Expanding Identification
There is alarm in both favor and disgrace.
Esteem and fear are identified with the self.
What is the meaning of "alarm in both favor and disgrace?"
Favor ascends; disgrace descends.
To attain them brings alarm.
To lose them brings alarm.
That is the meaning of "alarm in both favor and disgrace."
What is the meaning of "esteem and fear are identified with the self?"
The reason for our fear
Is the presence of our self
When we are selfless,
What is there to fear?
Therefore those who esteem the world as self
Will be committed to the world.
Those who love the world as self
Will be entrusted with the world.
14
The Essence of Tao
Looked at but not seen:
Its name is formless.
Listened to but not heard:
Its name is soundless.
Reached for but not obtained:
Its name is intangible.
These three cannot be analyzed,
So they mingle and act as one.
Its rising is not bright;
Its setting is not dark.
Endlessly, the nameless goes on,
Merging and returning to nothingness.
That is why it is called
The form of the formless,
The image of nothingness.
That is why it is called elusive.
Confronted, its beginning is not seen.
Followed, its end is not seen.
Hold on to the ancient Tao;
Control the current reality.
Be aware of the ancient origins;
This is called the Essence of Tao.
15
The Power in Subtle Force
Those skillful in teh ancient Tao
Are subtly ingenious and profoundly intuitive.
They are so deep they cannot be recognized.
Since, indeed, they cannot be recognized,
Their force can be contained.
So careful!
As if wading a stream in winter.
So hesitant!
As if respecting all sides in the community.
So reserved!
As if acting as a guest.
So yielding!
As if ice about to melt.
So candid!
As if acting wiht simplicity.
So open!
As if acting as a valley.
So integrated!
As if acting as muddy water.
Who can harmonize with muddy water,
And gradually arrive at clarity?
Who can move with stability,
And gradually bring endurance to life?
Those who maintain the Tao
Do not desire to become full.
Indeed, since they are not full,
They can be used up and also renewed.
16
Knowing the Absolute
Attain the highest openness;
Maintain the deepest harmony.
Become a part of All Things;
In this way, I perceive the cycles.
Indeed, things are numerous;
But each cycle merges with teh source.
Merging with the source is called harmonizing;
This is known as the cycle of destiny.
The cycle of desitny is called the Absolute;
Knowing the Absolute is called insight.
To not know the Absolute
Is to recklessly become a part of misfortune.
To know the Absolute is to be tolerant.
What is tolerant becomes impartial;
What is impartial becomes powerful;
What is powerful becomes natural;
What is natural becomes Tao.
What has Tao becomes everlasting
And free from harm throughout life.
17
The Way of Subtle Influence
Superior leaders are those whose existence is merely known;
The next best are loved and honored;
The next are respected;
And the next are ridiculed.
Those who lack belief
Will not in turn be believed.
But when the command comes from afar
And the work is done, the goal achieved,
