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From humility comes leadership。
Nowadays men shun mercy； but try to be brave；
They abandon economy； but try to be generous；
They do not believe in humility； but always try to be first。
This is certain death。
Mercy brings victory in battle and strength in defense。
It is the means by which heaven saves and guards。
68
A good soldier is not violent。
A good fighter is not angry。
A good winner is not vengeful
A good employer is humble。
This is known as the Virtue of not striving。
This is known as ability to deal with people。
This since ancient times has been known as the ultimate unity withheaven。
69
There is a saying among soldiers：
I dare not make the first move but would rather play the guest；
I dare not advance and inch but would rather withdraw a foot。
This is called marching without appearing to move；
Rolling up your sleeves without showing your arm；
Capturing the enemy without attacking；
Being armed without weapons。
There is no greater catastrophe than underestimating the enemy。
By underestimating the enemy； I almost lost what I value。
Therefore when the battle is joined；
The underdog will win。
70
My words are easy to understand and easy to perform；
Yet no man under heaven knows them or practices them。
My words have ancient beginnings。
My actions are disciplined。
Because men do not understand； they have no knowledge of me。
Those that know me are few；
Those that abuse me are honored。
Therefore the sage wears rough clothing and holds the jewel in hisheart。
71
Knowing ignorance is strength。
Ignoring knowledge is sickness。
If one is sick of sickness； then one is not sick。
The sage is not sick because he is sick of sickness。
Therefore he is not sick。
72
When men lack a sense of awe； there will be disaster。
Do not intrude in their homes。
Do not harass them at work。
If you do not interfere； they will not weary of you。
Therefore the sage knows himself but makes no show；
Has self…respect but is not arrogant。
He lets go of that and chooses this。
73
A brave and passionate man will kill or be killed。
A brave and calm man will always preserve life。
Of these two which is good and which is harmful？
Some things are not favored by heaven。 Who knows why？
Even the sage is unsure of this。
The Tao of heaven does not strive； and yet it overcomes。
It does not speak； and yet is answered。
It does not ask； yet is supplied with all its needs。
It seems to have no aim and yet its purpose is fulfilled。
Heaven's net casts wide。
Though its meshes are course； nothing slips through。
74
If men are not afraid to die；
It is no avail to threaten them with death。
If men live in constant fear of dying；
And if breaking the law means that a man will be killed；
Who will dare to break the law？
There is always an official executioner。
If you try to take his place；
It is like trying to be a master carpenter and cutting wood。
If you try to cut wood like a master carpenter； you will only hurtyour hand。
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75
Why are the people starving？
Because the rulers eat up the money in taxes。
Therefore the people are starving。
Why are the people rebellious？
Because the rulers interfere too much。
Therefore they are rebellious。
Why do the people think so little of death？
Because the rulers demand too much of life。
Therefore the people take death lightly。
Having little to live on； one knows better than to value life too much。
76
A man is born gentle and weak。
At his death he is hard and stiff。
Green plants are tender and filled with sap。
At their death they are withered and dry。
Therefore the stiff and unbending is the disciple of death。
The gentle and yielding is the disciple of life。
Thus an army without flexibility never wins a battle。
A tree that is unbending is easily broken。
The hard and strong will fall。
The soft and weak will overcome。
77
The Tao of heaven is like the bending of a bow。
The high is lowered； and the low is raised。
If the string is too long； it is shortened；
If there is not enough； it is made longer。
The Tao of heaven is to take from those who have too much and giveto those who do not have enough。
Man's way is different。
He takes from those who do not have enough and give to those who alreadyhave too much。
What man has more than enough and gives it to the world？
Only the man of Tao。
Therefore the sage works without recognition。
He achieves what has to be done without dwelling on it。
He does not try to show his knowledge。
78
Under heaven nothing is more soft and yielding than water。
Yet for attacking the solid and strong； nothing is better；
It has no equal。
The weak can overcome the strong；
The supple can overcome the stiff。
Under heaven everyone knows this；
Yet no one puts it into practice。
Therefore the sage says：
He who takes upon himself the humiliation of the people is fit to rulethem。
He who takes upon himself the country's disasters deserves to be kingof the universe。
The truth often sounds paradoxical。
79
After a bitter quarrel； some resentment must remain。
What can one do about it？
Therefore the sage keeps his half of the bargain
But does not exact his due。
A man of Virtue performs his part；
But a man without Virtue requires others to fulfill their obligations。
The Tao of heaven is impartial。
It stays with good men all the time。
80
A small country has fewer people。
Though there are machines that can work ten to a hundred times fasterthan man； they are not needed。
The people take death seriously and do not travel far。
Though they have boats and carriages； no one uses them。
Though they have armor and weapons； no one displays them。
Men return to the knotting of rope in place of writing。
Their food is plain and good； their clothes fine but simple； theirhomes secure；
They are happy in their ways。
Though they live within sight of their neighbors；
And crowing cocks and barking dogs are heard across the way；
Yet they leave each other in peace while they grow old and die。
81
Truthful words are not beautiful。
Beautiful words are not truthful。
Good men do not argue。
Those who argue are not good。
Those who know are not learned。
The learned do not know。
The sage never tries to store things up。
The more he does for others； the more he has。
The more he gives to others； the greater his abundance。
The Tao of heaven is pointed but does no harm。
The Tao of the sage is work without effort。
English_Fex_TTK
Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse
Chinese （Wang Bi） … English by
Aalar Fex； 2006
Vorwort/Foreword