The Tao And Its Characteristics
-
(Conceived of as) having no name, it is the Originator
(Conceived of as) having no name, it is the Originator of heaven and earth; (conceived of as) having a name, it is the Mother of all things ... (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) produces (all things) and nourishes them; it produces them
(The Tao) produces (all things) and nourishes them; it produces them and does not claim them as its own; it does all, and yet does not boast of it; it presides over all, and yet does not control them This is what is called 'The mysterious Quality' (of ... (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 He who would assist a lord of men
0 He who would assist a lord of men in harmony with the Tao will not assert his mastery in the kingdom by force of arms Such a course is sure to meet with its proper return ... 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 ... 0 When the intelligent and animal souls are held
0 When the intelligent and animal souls are held together in one embrace, they can be kept from separating When one gives undivided attention to the (vital) breath, and brings it to the utmost degree of pliancy, he can become as a (tender) babe When ... 0 When we renounce learning we have no troubles
0 When we renounce learning we have no troubles The (ready) 'yes,' and (flattering) 'yea;'-- Small is the difference they display But mark their issues, good and ill;-- What space the gulf between shall fill? What all men fear is indeed... 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 skilful (commander) strikes a decisive blow, and stops
A skilful (commander) strikes a decisive blow, and stops He does not dare (by continuing his operations) to assert and complete his mastery He will strike the blow, but will be on his guard against being vain or boastful or arrogant in consequence of... 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 ... Abstaining from speech marks him who is obeying the spontaneity of
Abstaining from speech marks him who is obeying the spontaneity of his nature A violent wind does not last for a whole morning; a sudden rain does not last for the whole day To whom is it that these (two) things are owing? To Heaven and Earth If H... All in the world know the beauty of the beautiful,
All in the world know the beauty of the beautiful, and in doing this they have (the idea of) what ugliness is; they all know the skill of the skilful, and in doing this they have (the idea of) what the want of skill is ... 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 depend on it for their production, which it
All things depend on it for their production, which it gives to them, not one refusing obedience to it When its work is accomplished, it does not claim the name of having done it It clothes all things as with a garment, and makes no assumption of bei... All things spring up, and there is not one which
All things spring up, and there is not one which declines to show itself; they grow, and there is no claim made for their ownership; they go through their processes, and there is no expectation (of a reward for the results) The work is accomplished, a... 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) ... All-pervading is the Great Tao! It may be found
All-pervading is the Great Tao! It may be found on the left hand and on the right ... Always without desire we must be found, If
Always without desire we must be found, If its deep mystery we would sound; But if desire always within us be, Its outer fringe is all that we shall see ... And when (one with the highest excellence) does not wrangle
And when (one with the highest excellence) does not wrangle (about his low position), no one finds fault with him ... As soon as it proceeds to action, it has a
As soon as it proceeds to action, it has a name When it once has that name, (men) can know to rest in it When they know to rest in it, they can be free from all risk of failure and error ... 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 ... Colour's five hues from th' eyes their sight will take;
Colour's five hues from th' eyes their sight will take; Music's five notes the ears as deaf can make; The flavours five deprive the mouth of taste; The chariot course, and the wild hunting waste Make mad the mind; and objects rare and str... 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 ... Favour and disgrace would seem equally to be feared; honour
Favour and disgrace would seem equally to be feared; honour and great calamity, to be regarded as personal conditions (of the same kind) ... Fishes should not be taken from the deep; instruments for
Fishes should not be taken from the deep; instruments for the profit of a state should not be shown to the people ... 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 ... Gravity is the root of lightness; stillness, the ruler of movement
Gravity is the root of lightness; stillness, the ruler of movement ... Great, it passes on (in constant flow) Passing on,
Great, it passes on (in constant flow) Passing on, it becomes remote Having become remote, it returns Therefore the Tao is great; Heaven is great; Earth is great; and the (sage) king is also great In the universe there are four that are great, and ... 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 constantly (tries to) keep them without knowledge and without desire,
He constantly (tries to) keep them without knowledge and without desire, and where there are those who have knowledge, to keep them from presuming to act (on it) When there is this abstinence from action, good order is universal ... 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 does not fail in the requirements of his
He who does not fail in the requirements of his position, continues long; he who dies and yet does not perish, has longevity ... 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 other men is discerning; he who knows
He who knows other men is discerning; he who knows himself is intelligent He who overcomes others is strong; he who overcomes himself is mighty He who is satisfied with his lot is rich; he who goes on acting with energy has a (firm) will ... 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 who stands on his tiptoes does not stand firm;
He who stands on his tiptoes does not stand firm; he who stretches his legs does not walk (easily) (So), he who displays himself does not shine; he who asserts his own views is not distinguished; he who vaunts himself does not find his merit acknowled... 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 ... Heaven and Earth (under its guidance) unite together and send
Heaven and Earth (under its guidance) unite together and send down the sweet dew, which, without the directions of men, reaches equally everywhere as of its own accord ... Heaven and earth do not act from (the impulse of)
Heaven and earth do not act from (the impulse of) any wish to be benevolent; they deal with all things as the dogs of grass are dealt with The sages do not act from (any wish to be) benevolent; they deal with the people as the dogs of grass are dealt... Heaven is long-enduring and earth continues long The reason why
Heaven is long-enduring and earth continues long The reason why heaven and earth are able to endure and continue thus long is because they do not live of, or for, themselves This is how they are able to continue and endure ... 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) ... Hence the sage is able (in the same way) to
Hence the sage is able (in the same way) to accomplish his great achievements It is through his not making himself great that he can accomplish them ... Hence, those with whom he agrees as to the Tao
Hence, those with whom he agrees as to the Tao have the happiness of attaining to it; those with whom he agrees as to its manifestation have the happiness of attaining to it; and those with whom he agrees in their failure have also the happiness of att... 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) ... How irresolute did those (earliest rulers) appear, showing (by their reticence)
How irresolute did those (earliest rulers) appear, showing (by their reticence) the importance which they set upon their words! Their work was done and their undertakings were successful, while the people all said, 'We are as we are, of ourselves!' ... I do not know its name, and I give it
I do not know its name, and I give it the designation of the Tao (the Way or Course) Making an effort (further) to give it a name I call it The Great ... I do not know whose son it is It
I do not know whose son it is It might appear to have been before God ... 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 any one should wish to get the kingdom for
If any one should wish to get the kingdom for himself, and to effect this by what he does, I see that he will not succeed The kingdom is a spirit-like thing, and cannot be got by active doing He who would so win it destroys it; he who would hold it ... 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 princes and kings were able to maintain it, all
If princes and kings were able to maintain it, all things would of themselves be transformed by them ... 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... If we could renounce our sageness and discard our wisdom,
If we could renounce our sageness and discard our wisdom, it would be better for the people a hundredfold If we could renounce our benevolence and discard our righteousness, the people would again become filial and kindly If we could renounce our ar... In loving the people and ruling the state, cannot he
In loving the people and ruling the state, cannot he proceed without any (purpose of) action? In the opening and shutting of his gates of heaven, cannot he do so as a female bird? While his intelligence reaches in every direction, cannot he (appear t... In the highest antiquity, (the people) did not know that
In the highest antiquity, (the people) did not know that there were (their rulers) In the next age they loved them and praised them In the next they feared them; in the next they despised them Thus it was that when faith (in the Tao) was deficient (... 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 better to leave a vessel unfilled, than to
It is better to leave a vessel unfilled, than to attempt to carry it when it is full If you keep feeling a point that has been sharpened, the point cannot long preserve its sharpness ... 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 ... Its upper part is not bright, and its lower part
Its upper part is not bright, and its lower part is not obscure Ceaseless in its action, it yet cannot be named, and then it again returns and becomes nothing This is called the Form of the Formless, and the Semblance of the Invisible; this is called ... 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 ... Man takes his law from the Earth; the Earth takes
Man takes his law from the Earth; the Earth takes its law from Heaven; Heaven takes its law from the Tao The law of the Tao is its being what it is ... May not the space between heaven and earth be compared
May not the space between heaven and earth be compared to a bellows? 'Tis emptied, yet it loses not its power; 'Tis moved again, and sends forth air the more Much speech to swift exhaustion lead we see; Your inner being guard, and keep it... 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 ...