Part Ii
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(It is the way of the Tao) to act without
(It is the way of the Tao) to act without (thinking of) acting; to conduct affairs without (feeling the) trouble of them; to taste without discerning any flavour; to consider what is small as great, and a few as many; and to recompense injury with kin... (Its) admirable words can purchase honour; (its) admirable deeds can raise
(Its) admirable words can purchase honour; (its) admirable deeds can raise their performer above others Even men who are not good are not abandoned by it ... (Such an one) cannot be treated familiarly or distantly; he
(Such an one) cannot be treated familiarly or distantly; he is beyond all consideration of profit or injury; of nobility or meanness:--he is the noblest man under heaven ... (The infant's) bones are weak and its sinews soft, but
(The infant's) bones are weak and its sinews soft, but yet its grasp is firm It knows not yet the union of male and female, and yet its virile member may be excited;--showing the perfection of its physical essence All day long it will cry without its... (The master of it) anticipates things that are difficult while
(The master of it) anticipates things that are difficult while they are easy, and does things that would become great while they are small All difficult things in the world are sure to arise from a previous state in which they were easy, and all great... (The Tao) which originated all under the sky is to
(The Tao) which originated all under the sky is to be considered as the mother of them all ... (Those who) possessed in highest degree the attributes (of the Tao)
(Those who) possessed in highest degree the attributes (of the Tao) did not (seek) to show them, and therefore they possessed them (in fullest measure) (Those who) possessed in a lower degree those attributes (sought how) not to lose them, and theref... (Those who) possessed in the highest degree those attributes did nothing
(Those who) possessed in the highest degree those attributes did nothing (with a purpose), and had no need to do anything (Those who) possessed them in a lower degree were (always) doing, and had need to be so doing ... (Those who) possessed the highest (sense of) propriety were (always seeking)
(Those who) possessed the highest (sense of) propriety were (always seeking) to show it, and when men did not respond to it, they bared the arm and marched up to them ... (Those who) possessed the highest benevolence were (always seeking) to carry
(Those who) possessed the highest benevolence were (always seeking) to carry it out, and had no need to be doing so (Those who) possessed the highest righteousness were (always seeking) to carry it out, and had need to be so doing ... (To illustrate from) the case of all females:--the female always overcomes
(To illustrate from) the case of all females:--the female always overcomes the male by her stillness Stillness may be considered (a sort of) abasement ... 0 Governing a great state is like cooking small
0 Governing a great state is like cooking small fish ... 0 In a little state with a small population,
0 In a little state with a small population, I would so order it, that, though there were individuals with the abilities of ten or a hundred men, there should be no employment of them; I would make the people, while looking on death as a grievous thing... 0 Men come forth and live; they enter (again)
0 Men come forth and live; they enter (again) and die ... 0 My words are very easy to know, and
0 My words are very easy to know, and very easy to practise; but there is no one in the world who is able to know and able to practise them ... 0 The movement of the Tao
0 The movement of the Tao By contraries proceeds; And weakness marks the course Of Tao's mighty deeds ... A master of the art of war has said, 'I
A master of the art of war has said, 'I do not dare to be the host (to commence the war); I prefer to be the guest (to act on the defensive) I do not dare to advance an inch; I prefer to retire a foot' This is called marshalling the ranks where ther... A state may be ruled by (measures of) correction; weapons
A state may be ruled by (measures of) correction; weapons of war may be used with crafty dexterity; (but) the kingdom is made one's own (only) by freedom from action and purpose ... All the world says that, while my Tao is great,
All the world says that, while my Tao is great, it yet appears to be inferior (to other systems of teaching) Now it is just its greatness that makes it seem to be inferior If it were like any other (system), for long would its smallness have been k... All things are produced by the Tao, and nourished by
All things are produced by the Tao, and nourished by its outflowing operation They receive their forms according to the nature of each, and are completed according to the circumstances of their condition Therefore all things without exception honour... All things under heaven sprang from It as existing (and
All things under heaven sprang from It as existing (and named); that existence sprang from It as non-existent (and not named) ... But I have heard that he who is skilful in
But I have heard that he who is skilful in managing the life entrusted to him for a time travels on the land without having to shun rhinoceros or tiger, and enters a host without having to avoid buff coat or sharp weapon The rhinoceros finds no place ... But I have three precious things which I prize and
But I have three precious things which I prize and hold fast The first is gentleness; the second is economy; and the third is shrinking from taking precedence of others ... Constant action overcomes cold; being still overcomes heat Purity and
Constant action overcomes cold; being still overcomes heat Purity and stillness give the correct law to all under heaven ... Every one in the world knows that the soft overcomes
Every one in the world knows that the soft overcomes the hard, and the weak the strong, but no one is able to carry it out in practice ... For regulating the human (in our constitution) and rendering the (proper)
For regulating the human (in our constitution) and rendering the (proper) service to the heavenly, there is nothing like moderation ... Gentleness is sure to be victorious even in battle, and
Gentleness is sure to be victorious even in battle, and firmly to maintain its ground Heaven will save its possessor, by his (very) gentleness protecting him ... He (who knows it) will keep his mouth shut and
He (who knows it) will keep his mouth shut and close the portals (of his nostrils) He will blunt his sharp points and unravel the complications of things; he will attemper his brightness, and bring himself into agreement with the obscurity (of others)... He diminishes it and again diminishes it, till he arrives
He diminishes it and again diminishes it, till he arrives at doing nothing (on purpose) Having arrived at this point of non-action, there is nothing which he does not do ... He who acts (with an ulterior purpose) does harm; he
He who acts (with an ulterior purpose) does harm; he who takes hold of a thing (in the same way) loses his hold The sage does not act (so), and therefore does no harm; he does not lay hold (so), and therefore does not lose his bold (But) people in th... He who devotes himself to learning (seeks) from day to
He who devotes himself to learning (seeks) from day to day to increase (his knowledge); he who devotes himself to the Tao (seeks) from day to day to diminish (his doing) ... He who gets as his own all under heaven does
He who gets as his own all under heaven does so by giving himself no trouble (with that end) If one take trouble (with that end), he is not equal to getting as his own all under heaven ... He who has in himself abundantly the attributes (of the
He who has in himself abundantly the attributes (of the Tao) is like an infant Poisonous insects will not sting him; fierce beasts will not seize him; birds of prey will not strike him ... He who in (Tao's) wars has skill
He who in (Tao's) wars has skill Assumes no martial port; He who fights with most good will To rage makes no resort He who vanquishes yet still Keeps from his foes apart; He whose hests men most fulfil Yet humbly... He who knows (the Tao) does not (care to) speak
He who knows (the Tao) does not (care to) speak (about it); he who is (ever ready to) speak about it does not know it ... He who knows these two things finds in them also
He who knows these two things finds in them also his model and rule Ability to know this model and rule constitutes what we call the mysterious excellence (of a governor) Deep and far-reaching is such mysterious excellence, showing indeed its possess... He who lightly promises is sure to keep but little
He who lightly promises is sure to keep but little faith; he who is continually thinking things easy is sure to find them difficult Therefore the sage sees difficulty even in what seems easy, and so never has any difficulties ... He who possesses the mother of the state may continue
He who possesses the mother of the state may continue long His case is like that (of the plant) of which we say that its roots are deep and its flower stalks firm:--this is the way to secure that its enduring life shall long be seen ... He whose boldness appears in his daring (to do wrong,
He whose boldness appears in his daring (to do wrong, in defiance of the laws) is put to death; he whose boldness appears in his not daring (to do so) lives on Of these two cases the one appears to be advantageous, and the other to be injurious But ... Hence he who (relies on) the strength of his forces
Hence he who (relies on) the strength of his forces does not conquer; and a tree which is strong will fill the out-stretched arms, (and thereby invites the feller) ... How do I know that it is so? By
How do I know that it is so? By these facts:--In the kingdom the multiplication of prohibitive enactments increases the poverty of the people; the more implements to add to their profit that the people have, the greater disorder is there in the state ... How do I know that this effect is sure to
How do I know that this effect is sure to hold thus all under the sky? By this (method of observation) ... I would make the people return to the use of
I would make the people return to the use of knotted cords (instead of the written characters) ... If heaven were not thus pure, it soon would rend;
If heaven were not thus pure, it soon would rend; If earth were not thus sure, 'twould break and bend; Without these powers, the spirits soon would fail; If not so filled, the drought would parch each vale; Without that life, creatures wou... If I were suddenly to become known, and (put into
If I were suddenly to become known, and (put into a position to) conduct (a government) according to the Great Tao, what I should be most afraid of would be a boastful display ... If this transformation became to me an object of desire,
If this transformation became to me an object of desire, I would express the desire by the nameless simplicity Simplicity without a name Is free from all external aim With no desire, at rest and still, All things go right as of their wi... In the Way of Heaven, there is no partiality of
In the Way of Heaven, there is no partiality of love; it is always on the side of the good man ... In this way the effect will be seen in the
In this way the effect will be seen in the person, by the observation of different cases; in the family; in the neighbourhood; in the state; and in the kingdom ... In this way though he has his place above them,
In this way though he has his place above them, men do not feel his weight, nor though he has his place before them, do they feel it an injury to them ... It is by avoiding such indulgence that such weariness does
It is by avoiding such indulgence that such weariness does not arise ... It is only by this moderation that there is effected
It is only by this moderation that there is effected an early return (to man's normal state) That early return is what I call the repeated accumulation of the attributes (of the Tao) With that repeated accumulation of those attributes, there comes th... It is simply by being pained at (the thought of)
It is simply by being pained at (the thought of) having this disease that we are preserved from it The sage has not the disease He knows the pain that would be inseparable from it, and therefore he does not have it ... It is the way of Heaven not to strive, and
It is the way of Heaven not to strive, and yet it skilfully overcomes; not to speak, and yet it is skilful in (obtaining a reply; does not call, and yet men come to it of themselves Its demonstrations are quiet, and yet its plans are skilful and effec... It is the Way of Heaven to diminish superabundance, and
It is the Way of Heaven to diminish superabundance, and to supplement deficiency It is not so with the way of man He takes away from those who have not enough to add to his own superabundance ... It produces them and makes no claim to the possession
It produces them and makes no claim to the possession of them; it carries them through their processes and does not vaunt its ability in doing so; it brings them to maturity and exercises no control over them;--this is called its mysterious operation ... Let him keep his mouth closed, and shut up the
Let him keep his mouth closed, and shut up the portals (of his nostrils), and all his life he will be exempt from laborious exertion Let him keep his mouth open, and (spend his breath) in the promotion of his affairs, and all his life there will be no ... Let the kingdom be governed according to the Tao, and
Let the kingdom be governed according to the Tao, and the manes of the departed will not manifest their spiritual energy It is not that those manes have not that spiritual energy, but it will not be employed to hurt men It is not that it could not hu... Let them not thoughtlessly indulge themselves in their ordinary life; let
Let them not thoughtlessly indulge themselves in their ordinary life; let them not act as if weary of what that life depends on ... Man at his birth is supple and weak; at his
Man at his birth is supple and weak; at his death, firm and strong (So it is with) all things Trees and plants, in their early growth, are soft and brittle; at their death, dry and withered ... May not the Way (or Tao) of Heaven be compared
May not the Way (or Tao) of Heaven be compared to the (method of) bending a bow? The (part of the bow) which was high is brought low, and what was low is raised up (So Heaven) diminishes where there is superabundance, and supplements where there is ... Now propriety is the attenuated form of leal-heartedness and good faith,
Now propriety is the attenuated form of leal-heartedness and good faith, and is also the commencement of disorder; swift apprehension is (only) a flower of the Tao, and is the beginning of stupidity ... Of every ten three are ministers of life (to themselves);
Of every ten three are ministers of life (to themselves); and three are ministers of death ... Or fame or life, Which do
Or fame or life, Which do you hold more dear? Or life or wealth, To which would you adhere? Keep life and lose those other things; Keep them and lose your life:--which brings Sorrow and pain more near? ... Scholars of the highest class, when they hear about the
Scholars of the highest class, when they hear about the Tao, earnestly carry it into practice Scholars of the middle class, when they have heard about it, seem now to keep it and now to lose it Scholars of the lowest class, when they have heard about... Shall we then dispense with correction? The (method of)
Shall we then dispense with correction? The (method of) correction shall by a turn become distortion, and the good in it shall by a turn become evil The delusion of the people (on this point) has indeed subsisted for a long time ... Sincere words are not fine; fine words are not sincere
Sincere words are not fine; fine words are not sincere Those who are skilled (in the Tao) do not dispute (about it); the disputatious are not skilled in it Those who know (the Tao) are not extensively learned; the extensively learned do not know it ... Tao has of all things the most honoured place
Tao has of all things the most honoured place No treasures give good men so rich a grace; Bad men it guards, and doth their ill efface ... Tao when nursed within one's self,
Tao when nursed within one's self, His vigour will make true; And where the family it rules What riches will accrue! The neighbourhood where it prevails In thriving will abound; And when 'tis seen throughout the state, ... That whereby the rivers and seas are able to receive
That whereby the rivers and seas are able to receive the homage and tribute of all the valley streams, is their skill in being lower than they;--it is thus that they are the kings of them all So it is that the sage (ruler), wishing to be above men, p... That which is at rest is easily kept hold of;
That which is at rest is easily kept hold of; before a thing has given indications of its presence, it is easy to take measures against it; that which is brittle is easily broken; that which is very small is easily dispersed Action should be taken be... The ancients who showed their skill in practising the Tao
The ancients who showed their skill in practising the Tao did so, not to enlighten the people, but rather to make them simple and ignorant ... The difficulty in governing the people arises from their having much
The difficulty in governing the people arises from their having much knowledge He who (tries to) govern a state by his wisdom is a scourge to it; while he who does not (try to) do so is a blessing ... The government that seems the most unwise, Oft
The government that seems the most unwise, Oft goodness to the people best supplies; That which is meddling, touching everything, Will work but ill, and disappointment bring Misery!--happiness is to be found by its side! Happiness!--miser... The great state only wishes to unite men together and
The great state only wishes to unite men together and nourish them; a small state only wishes to be received by, and to serve, the other Each gets what it desires, but the great state must learn to abase itself ... The great Tao (or way) is very level and easy;
The great Tao (or way) is very level and easy; but people love the by-ways ... The people are difficult to govern because of the (excessive) agency
The people are difficult to govern because of the (excessive) agency of their superiors (in governing them) It is through this that they are difficult to govern ... The people do not fear death; to what purpose is
The people do not fear death; to what purpose is it to (try to) frighten them with death? If the people were always in awe of death, and I could always seize those who do wrong, and put them to death, who would dare to do wrong? ... The people make light of dying because of the greatness
The people make light of dying because of the greatness of their labours in seeking for the means of living It is this which makes them think light of dying Thus it is that to leave the subject of living altogether out of view is better than to set a... The people suffer from famine because of the multitude of
The people suffer from famine because of the multitude of taxes consumed by their superiors It is through this that they suffer famine ... The perception of what is small is (the secret of
The perception of what is small is (the secret of clear- sightedness; the guarding of what is soft and tender is (the secret of) strength ... The sage does not accumulate (for himself) The more
The sage does not accumulate (for himself) The more that he expends for others, the more does he possess of his own; the more that he gives to others, the more does he have himself ... The sage has in the world an appearance of indecision,
The sage has in the world an appearance of indecision, and keeps his mind in a state of indifference to all The people all keep their eyes and ears directed to him, and he deals with them all as his children ... The sage has no invariable mind of his own; he
The sage has no invariable mind of his own; he makes the mind of the people his mind ... The softest thing in the world dashes against and overcomes
The softest thing in the world dashes against and overcomes the hardest; that which has no (substantial) existence enters where there is no crevice I know hereby what advantage belongs to doing nothing (with a purpose) ... The Tao is hidden, and has no name; but it
The Tao is hidden, and has no name; but it is the Tao which is skilful at imparting (to all things what they need) and making them complete ... The Tao produced One; One produced Two; Two produced Three; Three
The Tao produced One; One produced Two; Two produced Three; Three produced All things All things leave behind them the Obscurity (out of which they have come), and go forward to embrace the Brightness (into which they have emerged), while they are ha... The things which from of old have got the One
The things which from of old have got the One (the Tao) are-- Heaven which by it is bright and pure; Earth rendered thereby firm and sure; Spirits with powers by it supplied; Valleys kept full throughout their void All creatures whi... The tree which fills the arms grew from the tiniest
The tree which fills the arms grew from the tiniest sprout; the tower of nine storeys rose from a (small) heap of earth; the journey of a thousand li commenced with a single step ... Their court(-yards and buildings) shall be well kept, but their fields
Their court(-yards and buildings) shall be well kept, but their fields shall be ill-cultivated, and their granaries very empty They shall wear elegant and ornamented robes, carry a sharp sword at their girdle, pamper themselves in eating and drinking,... There are also three in every ten whose aim is
There are also three in every ten whose aim is to live, but whose movements tend to the land (or place) of death And for what reason? Because of their excessive endeavours to perpetuate life ... There are few in the world who attain to the
There are few in the world who attain to the teaching without words, and the advantage arising from non-action ... There is always One who presides over the infliction death
There is always One who presides over the infliction death He who would inflict death in the room of him who so presides over it may be described as hewing wood instead of a great carpenter Seldom is it that he who undertakes the hewing, instead of t... There is an originating and all-comprehending (principle) in my words, and
There is an originating and all-comprehending (principle) in my words, and an authoritative law for the things (which I enforce) It is because they do not know these, that men do not know me ... There is no calamity greater than lightly engaging in war
There is no calamity greater than lightly engaging in war To do that is near losing (the gentleness) which is so precious Thus it is that when opposing weapons are (actually) crossed, he who deplores (the situation) conquers ... There is no guilt greater than to sanction ambition; no
There is no guilt greater than to sanction ambition; no calamity greater than to be discontented with one's lot; no fault greater than the wish to be getting Therefore the sufficiency of contentment is an enduring and unchanging sufficiency ... There is nothing in the world more soft and weak
There is nothing in the world more soft and weak than water, and yet for attacking things that are firm and strong there is nothing that can take precedence of it;--for there is nothing (so effectual) for which it can be changed ... There should be a neighbouring state within sight, and the
There should be a neighbouring state within sight, and the voices of the fowls and dogs should be heard all the way from it to us, but I would make the people to old age, even to death, not have any intercourse with it ... Therefore (to guard against this), the sage keeps the left-hand portion
Therefore (to guard against this), the sage keeps the left-hand portion of the record of the engagement, and does not insist on the (speedy) fulfilment of it by the other party (So), he who has the attributes (of the Tao) regards (only) the conditions... Therefore a sage has said, 'He who accepts his
Therefore a sage has said, 'He who accepts his state's reproach, Is hailed therefore its altars' lord; To him who bears men's direful woes They all the name of King accord' ... Therefore a sage has said, 'I will do nothing (of
Therefore a sage has said, 'I will do nothing (of purpose), and the people will be transformed of themselves; I will be fond of keeping still, and the people will of themselves become correct I will take no trouble about it, and the people will of the...