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Place therefore the army where there is no army； prepare for actionwhere
there is no engagement； strike where there is no conflict； advance
against the enemy where the enemy is not。
There is no error so great as to engage in battle without sufficient
force。 To do so is to risk losing the gentleness which is beyond price。
Thus when the lines actually engage； he who regretteth the necessityis
the victor。
70
THE DIFFICULTY OF RIGHT APPREHENSION
My words are easy to understand and to perform； but is there anyonein
the world who can understand them and perform them？
My words derive from a creative and universal Principle； in accord with
the One Law。 Men； not knowing these； understand me not。
Few are they that understand me； therefore am I the more to be valued。
The Wise Man weareth sack…cloth； but guardeth his jewel in his bosom。
71
THE DISTEMPER OF KNOWLEDGE
To know； yet to know nothing； is the highest； not to know； yet to pretend
to knowledge； is a distemper。
Painful is this distemper； therefore we shun it。 The wise man hath it
not。 Knowing it to be bound up with Sorrow； he putteth it away fromhim。
72
CONCERNING LOVE OF SELF
When men fear not that which is to be feared； that which they fearcometh
upon them。
Let them not live； without thought； the superficial life。
Let them not weary of the Spring of Life！
By avoiding the superficial life； this weariness cometh not upon them。
These things the wise man knoweth； not showeth： he loveth himself；
without isolating his value。 He accepteth the former and rejecteth
the latter。
73
ESTABLISHING THE LAW OF FREEDOM
One man； daring； is executed； another； not daring； liveth。 It wouldseem
as if the one course were profitable and the other detrimental。 Yetwhen
Heaven smiteth a man； who shall assign the cause thereof？ Thereforethe
sage is diffident。
The Tao of Heaven contendeth not； yet it overcometh； it is silent； yet
its need is answered； it summoneth none； but all men come to it oftheir
free will。 Its method is quietness； yet its will is efficient。 Large
are the meshes of Heaven's Net； wide open； yet letting none escape。
74
A RESTRAINT OF MISUNDERSTANDING
The people have no fear of death； why then seek to awe them by thethreat
of death？ If the people feared death and I could put to death evil…doers；
who would dare to offend？
There is one appointed to inflict death。 He who would usurp that position
resembleth a hewer of wood doing the work of a carpenter。 Such an one；
presumptuous； will be sure to cut his own hands。
75
THE INJURY OF GREED
In such a state of insecurity it is better to ignore the question ofliving
than to set store by it。
76
A WARNING AGAINST RIGIDITY
At the birth of man； he is elastic and weak； at his death； rigid and
unyielding。 This is the common law； trees also； in their youth； are
tender and supple； in their decay； hard and dry。
So then rigidity and hardness are the stigmata of death； elasticityand
adaptability； of life。
He then who putteth forth strength is not victorious； even as a strong
tree filleth the embrace。
Thus the hard and rigid have the inferior place； the soft and elasticthe
superior。
77
THE WAY OF HEAVEN
The Tao of Heaven is likened to the bending of a bow； whereby the high
part is brought down； and the low part raised up。 The extreme is
diminished； and the middle increased。
This is the Way of Heaven； to remove excess； and to supplement
insufficiency。 Not so is the way of man； who taketh away from him that
hath not to give to him that hath already excess。
Who can employ his own excess to the weal of all under Heaven？ Onlyhe
that possesseth the Tao。
So the Wise Man acteth without lust of result； achieveth and boasteth
not； he willeth not to proclaim his greatness。
78
A CREED
Nothing in the world is more elastic and yielding than water； yet itis
preeminent to dissolve things rigid and resistant； there is nothingwhich
can match it。
All men know that the soft overcometh the hard； and the weak conquereth
the strong； but none are able to use this law in action。
A Wise Man hath said： 'He that taketh on the burden of the state isa
demigod worthy of sacrificial worship； and the true King of a peopleis
he that undertaketh the weight of their sorrows。'
Truth appeareth paradox。
79
TRUTH IN COVENANT
When enemies are reconciled； there is always an aftermath of illwill。
How can this be useful？
Therefore； the Wise Man； while he keepeth his part of the record ofa
transaction； doth not insist on its prompt execution。 He who hath the
Teh considereth the situation from all sides； while he who hath itnot
seeketh only to benefit himself。
In the Tao of Heaven； there is no distinction of persons in its love；but
it is for the True Man to claim it。
80
ISOLATION
In a little kingdom of few people it should be the order that though
there were men able to do the work of ten men or five score； they should
not be employed。 Though the people regarded death as sorrowful； yetthey
should not wish to go elsewhere。
They should have boats and wagons； yet no necessity to travel； corslets
and weapons； yet no occasion to fight。
For communication they should use knotted cords。
They should deem their food sweet； their clothes beautiful； their houses
homes； their customs delightful。
There should be another state within view； so that its fowls and dogs
should be heard； yet to old age； even to death； the people should holdno
traffic with it。
81
THE SHEWING…FORTH OF SIMPLICITY
True speech is not elegant； elaborate speech is not truth。 Those who
know do not argue； the argumentative are without knowledge。 Those who
have assimilated are not learned； those who are gross with learninghave
not assimilated。
The Wise Man doth not hoard。 The more he giveth； the more he hath； the
more he watereth； the more is he watered himself。
The Tao of Heaven is like an Arrow； yet it woundeth not； and the Wise
Man； in all his Works； maketh no contention。
English_Dicus_TTK
Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse
English interpolation by
John Dicus； 2002
1
The Tao that is spoken of； cannot be truly explained。
The grandest eloquence cannot define it。
It has no name； and is the creator of Heaven and Earth。
Forced to name it； we can call it the Tao （the Way）； and accept that it is great。
When we are lost in desire we can see only the outer manifestations of this greatness。
If we free ourselves from desire we can experience the unfathomable depths；
and know the mystery of the great Tao。
The Mystery and the Manifestations are separate； yet they arise