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On the defense； it holds the fort。
It is Heaven's means of aid and protection。
68
The best soldier does not rush into battle。
The best fighter does not display his anger。
The best conqueror does not take vengeance on his enemy。
The best leader is the best follower。
This is known as the power ＇Te＇ of not contending。
This is known as true leadership。
This is known as following Heaven's lead。
69
There is a saying among military strategists：
〃Instead of advancing； I'll be advanced upon；
it is better to retreat a foot than to advance an inch。〃
This is known as advancing without advancing；
getting ready without showing your muscles；
capturing without attacking；
being well朼rmed without weapons。
There is nothing worse than underestimating your enemy。
That leads to total defeat。
Therefore； when armies clash；
it is the side that does not rejoice in war杕aking that wins。
70
My teachings are very easy to understand
and even easier to put into practice。
And yet； no one understands or practices them。
My teachings are derived from an ancient system of principles。
People who do not realize this do not really know me。
Few know me； but that is my value。
Therefore； the Tao朚aster wears rough clothing；
but has a jewel for a heart。
71
To know that you do not know is strength。
Not knowing that you do not know is a sickness。
The cure begins with the recognition of the sickness。
The Tao朚aster is not sick； but he is sick of sickness。
Thus； he is well。
72
When the people do not fear your power；
then your power has become truly great。
Do not intrude into their homes。
Do not interfere with their work。
If you do not oppress them； then they will not become sick of you。
Thus； the Tao朚aster knows himself； but does not show himself。
He loves himself； but is not arrogant。
Therefore； he lets go of that and chooses this。
73
A man of daring courage will kill or be killed。
A man of cautious courage seeks to save lives。
Each of these may be either beneficial or harmful。
Heaven hates what it hates。
Who knows why？
Even the Tao朚aster can't figure it out。
The Tao does not contend； but it prevails。
It does not speak； but it answers。
It is not called； but it responds。
It has no purpose； but it achieves all of its aims。
Heaven's net is wide； nothing slips through。
74
If people do not fear death；
then you cannot threaten them with it。
If they are afraid of death；
we could make death the penalty for breaking the law。
But do we dare to do so？
Consider the role of the official executioner：
Are you ready to play that role？
When amateurs try to play the master carpenter；
they usually cut and bruise themselves in the process。
75
When taxes are too high； people starve。
When the government is too intrusive；
it makes life no longer worth living； and
the people lose their love of life and their fear of death。
To promote the value of life； do not interfere with it。
76
People are born soft and flexible；
when they are dead； they are hard and stiff。
Living plants are tender and pliant；
when they are dead； they are brittle and dried out。
Therefore； whatever is hard and stiff is a sign of death。
Whatever is soft and flexible is a sign of life。
An army without flexibility never wins。
An unbending tree is easily brought down by the wind。
The hard and stiff fall。
The soft and flexible rise。
77
The Tao is like the bending of a bow。
The top is bent downward； the bottom is bent up。
If the cord is too long； it is shortened；
if it is too short； it is lengthened。
The policy of the Tao is to take from those who have too much
and give to those who have too little。
But that is not the human practice。
We take from those who have too little
and give to those who have too much。
Who is it that has more than enough
and gives his surplus to those in need？
Only the follower of the Tao。
The follower of the Tao acts without hope of gain；
accomplishes but takes no credit；
does not wish to lord it over others。
78
Water is soft and yielding； but
nothing can more effectively dissolve the hard and inflexible。
Weak defeats strong。
Soft defeats hard。
This is well杒nown； but not easy to put into practice。
Therefore； the Tao朚aster says：
He who takes upon himself the dirt of the nation
becomes the master of its sacred soil；
he who takes upon himself the evils of the land
becomes a true king under Heaven。
Straight words seem crooked。
79
Great resentment； even when appeased； does not go away。
How can this be good？
Therefore； the Tao朚aster keeps his promises；
but he does not look into whether others are keeping theirs。
The man of virtue （Te） monitors himself；
The man without virtue monitors others。
The Tao of Heaven plays no favorites；
but it is always manifest in the good man。
80
Imagine a small country with a small population。
They have lots of technology； but they use none of it。
They take the prospect of death seriously
and thus do not travel far from home。
They have boats and carriages； but no one takes them out。
They have weapons and armor；
but no one takes them out of the armory。
Instead of writing； they have gone back
to the old system of cord杒notting。
They enjoy their plain but good food；
their simple but fine clothing；
their humble but secure homes。
They are happy with their way of life。
The next country is so close that the crowing of the cocks and
the barking of the dogs over there can be easily heard over here；
and yet the people over here grow old and die
without ever having been over there。
81
True words aren't pretty； pretty words aren't true。
The good do not contend； those who contend aren't good。
The wise are not learned； the learned are not wise。
The Tao朚aster is not greedy。
The more he does for others； the more he has。
The more he gives to others； the richer he becomes。
The Tao sharpens without cutting。
The Tao朚aster acts with non朼do。
English_Crowley_TTK
Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse
Chinese … English by
Aleister Crowley； 1923
1
THE NATURE OF THE TAO
The Tao…Path is not the All…Tao。
The Name is not the Thing named。
Unmanifested； it is the Secret Father of
To understand this Mystery； one must be fulfilling one's will；
and if one is not thus free； one will but gain a smattering of it。
The Tao is one； and the Teh but a phase thereof。 The abyss of this
Mystery is the Portal of Serpent…Wonder。
The Tao
The Teh； The Tao；
source of the Mother source of the Father
2
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