按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
30
Whenever you advise a ruler in the way of Tao；
Counsel him not to use force to conquer the universe。
For this would only cause resistance。
Thorn bushes spring up wherever the army has passed。
Lean years follow in the wake of a great war。
Just do what needs to be done。
Never take advantage of power。
Achieve results；
But never glory in them。
Achieve results；
But never boast。
Achieve results；
But never be proud。
Achieve results；
Because this is the natural way。
Achieve results；
But not through violence。
Force is followed by loss of strength。
This is not the way of Tao。
That which goes against the Tao comes to an early end。
31
Good weapons are instruments of fear； all creatures hate them。
Therefore followers of Tao never use them。
The wise man prefers the left。
The man of war prefers the right。
Weapons are instruments of fear； they are not a wise man's tools。
He uses them only when he has no choice。
Peace and quiet are dear to his heart；
And victory no cause for rejoicing。
If you rejoice in victory； then you delight in killing；
If you delight in killing； you cannot fulfill yourself。
On happy occasions precedence is given to the left；
On sad occasions to the right。
In the army the general stands on the left；
The commander…in…chief on the right。
This means that war is conducted like a funeral。
When many people are being killed；
They should be mourned in heartfelt sorrow。
That is why a victory must be observed like a funeral。
32
The Tao is forever undefined。
Small though it is in the unformed state； it cannot be grasped。
If kings and lords could harness it；
The ten thousand things would come together
And gentle rain fall。
Men would need no more instruction and all things would take theircourse。
Once the whole is divided； the parts need names。
There are already enough names。
One must know when to stop。
Knowing when to stop averts trouble。
Tao in the world is like a river flowing home to the sea。
33
Knowing others is wisdom；
Knowing the self is enlightenment。
Mastering others requires force；
Mastering the self needs strength。
He who knows he has enough is rich。
Perseverance is a sign of willpower。
He who stays where he is endures。
To die but not to perish is to be eternally present。
34
The great Tao flows everywhere； both to the left and to the right。
The ten thousand things depend upon it； it holds nothing back。
It fulfills its purpose silently and makes no claim。
It nourishes the ten thousand things；
And yet is not their lord。
It has no aim； it is very small。
The ten thousand things return to it；
Yet it is not their lord。
It is very great。
It does not show greatness；
And is therefore truly great。
35
All men will come to him who keeps to the one；
For there lie rest and happiness and peace。
Passersby may stop for music and good food；
But a description of the Tao
Seems without substance or flavor。
It cannot be seen； it cannot be heard；
And yet it cannot be exhausted。
36
That which shrinks
Must first expand。
That which fails
Must first be strong。
That which is cast down
Must first be raised。
Before receiving
There must be giving。
This is called perception of the nature of things。
Soft and weak overcome hard and strong。
Fish cannot leave deep waters；
And a country's weapons should not be displayed。
37
Tao abides in non…action；
Yet nothing is left undone。
If kings and lords observed this；
The ten thousand things would develop naturally。
If they still desired to act；
They would return to the simplicity of formless substance。
Without for there is no desire。
Without desire there is。
And in this way all things would be at peace。
38
A truly good man is not aware of his goodness；
And is therefore good。
A foolish man tries to be good；
And is therefore not good。
A truly good man does nothing；
Yet leaves nothing undone。
A foolish man is always doing；
Yet much remains to be done。
When a truly kind man does something； he leaves nothing undone。
When a just man does something； he leaves a great deal to be done。
When a disciplinarian does something and no one responds；
He rolls up his sleeves in an attempt to enforce order。
Therefore when Tao is lost； there is goodness。
When goodness is lost； there is kindness。
When kindness is lost； there is justice。
When justice is lost； there ritual。
Now ritual is the husk of faith and loyalty； the beginning of confusion。
Knowledge of the future is only a flowery trapping of Tao。
It is the beginning of folly。
Therefore the truly great man dwells on what is real and not what ison the surface；
On the fruit and not the flower。
Therefore accept the one and reject the other。
39
These things from ancient times arise from one：
The sky is whole and clear。
The earth is whole and firm。
The spirit is whole and strong。
The valley is whole and full。
The ten thousand things are whole and alive。
Kings and lords are whole； and the country is upright。
All these are in virtue of wholeness。
The clarity of the sky prevents its falling。
The firmness of the earth prevents its splitting。
The strength of the spirit prevents its being used up。
The fullness of the valley prevents its running dry。
The growth of the ten thousand things prevents their drying out。
The leadership of kings and lords prevents the downfall of the country。
Therefore the humble is the root of the noble。
The low is the foundation of the high。
Princes and lords consider themselves 〃orphaned〃； 〃widowed〃 and 〃worthless〃。
Do they not depend on being humble？
Too much success is not an advantage。
Do not tinkle like jade
Or clatter like stone chimes。
40
Returning is the motion of the Tao。
Yielding is the way of the Tao。
The ten thousand things are born of being。
Being is born of not being。
41
The wise student hears of the Tao and practices it diligently。
The average student hears of the Tao and gives it thought now and again。
The foolish student hears of the Tao and laughs aloud。
If there were no laughter； the Tao would not be what it is。
Hence it is said：
The bright path seems dim；
Going forward seems like retreat；
The easy way seems hard；
The highest Virtue seems empty；
Great purity seems sullied；
A wealth of Virtue seems inadequate；
The strength of Virtue seems frail；
Real Virtue seems unreal；
The perfect square has no corners；
Great talents ripen late；
The highest notes are hard to hear；
The greatest form has no shape；
The Tao is hidden and without name。