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！
what is soft and flexible is life's friend。
The hard and fixed weapon will break；
the hardwood tree will be cut down；
the high shall be made low；
the first shall be last；
the poor and the meek
will win。
77
The way of the universe
is like
pulling the string of a bow
the bow bends
the top descends
the bottom ascends。
The way of the universe is
to take from the wealthy
and give to the poor。
The way of humanity is
to take from the poor
and give to the wealthy。
There is only one way that a person can have so much
that there is enough to give to poor and wealthy alike。
How？
By following the way；
directing but never with force；
accomplishing but never praised；
better than others
but unknown。
78
Nothing is softer； more flexible； or more giving than
water
nothing can resist it
nothing can take it away
nothing can endure it
there is no way to hurt it。
The flexible overcomes what resists it；
the giving overcomes what takes it；
the soft overcomes the hard；
but who uses this knowledge？
？br》
Only the person who knows the earth
as intimately as the trees and grasses
can rule the earth；
only the person who accepts
the guilt and evil of humanity
can rule the universe。
Straight tongues seem forked。
Straight talk seems crooked。
79
Stopping wars
feeding the hungry in foreign lands
building inner…city housing projects
not using racist or sexist language
will not succeed
because the deeper problems are not solved。
Stay at home
claiming nothing from others
giving everything
and the universe will give to you。
80
A small land
with small groups of people
using horses instead of cars
plows instead of tractors；
themselves and their families attached；
dying on the land rather than leave it。
Ships never boarded； airplanes never sat in；
missiles never aimed； guns never loaded。
Ribbons around fingers to remind us
instead of newspapers
simple talk
simple food
simple clothing
simple fireplace
simple work
Imagine growing up and dying
hearing the neighbors' dogs and chickens and cows
but never
having been
there。
81
True words are not pleasant to hear
sweet…sounding words are not true。
Good people do not prove things by argument
those who prove things by argument are not good。
Wisdom is different from book learning
book learning means little wisdom。
Wise people have no need to store things up
when all has been given to others
they have more than before。
The path of the universe
is to attain the end
without means
do
without acting。
English_Kwok_TTK
Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse
Chinese … English by
Kwok； Palmer； Ramsay； 1993
1
The Tao that can be talked about is notthe true Tao。
The name that can be named is notthe eternal Name。
Everything in the universe comes outof Nothing。
Nothing … the nameless is the beginning；
While Heaven； the mother is the creatrixof all things。
Follow the nothingness of the Tao；
and you can be like it； not needinganything；
seeing the wonder and the root ofeverything。
And even if you cannot grasp this nothingness；
you can still see something of theTao in everything。
These two are the same only calledby different names
… and both are mysterious and wonderful。
All mysteries are Tao； and Heaven istheir mother：
She is the gateway and the womb…door。
2
Beauty and mercy are only recognized bypeople
Because they know the opposite； whichis ugly and mean。
If the people think they know goodness
Then all they really know is whatevil is like！
Nothing； and Heaven share the sameroot …
Difficulty and ease are a part ofall work。
The long and the short are in yourhands；
Above and below exist because theyeach do；
What you want and what you say shouldbe the same。。。
Neither future nor past can existalone。
the sage has no attachment to anything；
and he therefore does what is rightwithout speaking
by simply being in the Tao。
Life； all life began without words。
Life is made…and no one owns it。
The Tao is neither selfish nor proud。
The Tao is generous and graceful inwhat it does
Without ever claiming any merit
And the sage's greatness lies
in taking no credit。
3
If the sage refuses to be proud
then people won't compete for hisattention：
If the sage does not buy treasures
Then the people won't want to stealthem：
If the sage governs with vision
Then his people will not go wrong。
So in his wisdom； he restrains himself：
… by not being greedy for food
… by not dominating the State
… by keeping himself healthy and fit。
The sage always makes sure
that the people don't know what he'sdone；
so they never want to be in control…
and are never driven by ambition。
He keeps them in truth like this actinginvisibly。
You see； if there is nothing to fightfor
then there is nothing that can breakthe flow。
4
The Tao pours out everything into life…
It is a cornucopia that never runsdry。
It is the deep source of everything…
it is nothing； and yet in everything。
It smooths round sharpness
and untangles the knots。
It glows like the lamp
that draws the moth。。。
Tao exists； Tao is
but where It came from I do not know。
It has been shaping things from beforethe First Being；
from the before the Beginning of Time。
5
Heaven and earth are not like humans。
The Tao does not act like a human。
They don't expect to be thanked
for making life；
so they view it without expectation。
Heaven and earth are like a pair ofbellows：
they are empty； and yet they can neverbe exhausted。
Work them； and they produce more andmore
… there's too much talking； it's reallybetter to stay quiet。
There are too many laws； when all youhave to do
is to hold on to the centre。
6
The Tao is the breath that never dies。
It is a Mother to All Creation。
It is the root and ground of everysoul
… the fountain of Heaven and Earth；laid open。
Endless source； endless river
River of no shape； river of no water
Drifting invisibly from place to place
。。。 it never ends and it never fails。
7
Heaven and earth are enduring。
The universe can live for ever；
because it does not live for itself。
And so both last … outliving themselves。
The sage guides his people
by putting himself last。
Desiring nothing for himself；
he knows how to channel desires。
And is it not because he wants nothing
that he is able to achieve eve