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the longest journey； with a first step。
Failure often happens on the verge of success；
truly heed the end no less than the beginning。
65
The ancients did not teach the Tao； because the people were too clever。
Clever rulers cheat the country。
Simple rulers bless the country。
It is secret power that brings all things back to the origin。
All in grand harmony。
66
The sea is the ruler of the rivers；
Because it lies below them。
Thus a ruler should always：
Speak like a subordinate； and lead by following after。
The ruler stands above； and no one feels the weight。
67
All the world says： Tao seems so unworthy。
If it did not seem unworthy； it would have perished long ago。
I have three treasures； which I protect and preserve：
The first is tender love。
The second is never too much。
The third is Never be first in the world。
Through love； you have no fear。
Through never…too…much； you always have enough。
Through never…be…first； you remain perfectly useful。
Love is victorious in attack； and invulnerable in defense。
Nature arms with love those it would not see destroyed。
68
A perfect warrior is not warlike。
A perfect fighter shows no wrath。
A perfect winner is not aggressive。
A perfect leader is humble。
This is the power of not…contending；
Using the strength of others。
It is called Matching Nature。
69
A proverb from the military： Better to defend than attack。
Better to withdraw a foot than advance an inch。
Thus； march without advancing；
counterattack without weapons；
subdue without battlelines。
To the victor goes the mourning。
70
Tao is easy to understand and even easier to practice。
Yet no one knows it； and no one practices it。
Words have an origin； like actions have an origin。
It is because you do not know the origin that you do not know Tao。
Since few people know it； Tao is very rare。
71
To know when you don't know； is the best you can do。
To pretend to know； when you don't； is misery。
See misery as misery； and be free of it。
72
When the dreadful is no longer feared；
then dreadful things will appear everywhere。
Thus the sage does not confine； and does not oppress。
By never being force…fed； no one gets fed up。
73
Be brave and passionate； and you will Kill or Be Killed。
Be brave and calm； and you will Always Preserve Life。
Who knows what nature hates？
Nature's net is vast； though its meshes are wide； nothing slips through。
74
If people no longer fear death；
they can no longer be threatened with death。
There is one great executioner。
Trying to do the work of the great executioner
is like trying to do the cutting of a master carver：
You may end up just cutting your self。
75
People are starving because rulers take too much tax…grain。
Things become difficult when rulers try to do too many things。
People value life so little because rulers value living so much。
Having little to live on； one knows to not value life too much。
76
When you are born； you are gentle and weak；
when you die； you are stiff and hard。
When plants are growing they are soft and supple。
After they die they become brittle and dry。
Thus stiff and hard are close to death；
and soft and gentle are close to life。
A tree that does not bend； breaks。
The soft and weak overcomes the hard and strong。
77
Nature's way is like bending a great bow：
The top comes down； and the bottom comes up。
Length is shortened； and width is expanded。
Nature's way is to take from the too…much； and give to the not…enough。
Man's way is usually the opposite。
Who has enough to offer the world？
78
There is nothing more soft and yielding than water；
Yet nothing is better for overcoming the hard and strong。
It has no equal。
Thus those who take blame； honor the nation。
Those who accept disaster； save the nation。
79
Patching up differences always leaves some differences behind。
What can one do？
Always keep your half of the bargain； and never exact your due。
A powerful person tries to patch up。
A weak person tries to assign blame。
Truly； nature is never partial； but always good。
80
Let there be a small nation； with few people；
with many tools； and none being used。
Let the people value death； and not travel far。
Let them count on their fingers；
and live in neighborhoods overlooking each other。
And let all things grow in peace。
81
Truth is not beautiful； beauty is not true。
The sage does not hoard： The more that is given； the more gets received。
Move like water； rest like a mirror； respond like an echo。
English_Mabry_TTK
Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse
English interpretation by
John R。 Mabry； PhD
1
The Tao that can be described in words is not the true Tao
The Name that can be named is not the true Name。
From non…existence were called Heaven and Earth
From existence All things were born。
In being without desires； you experience the wonder
But by having desires； you experience the journey。
Yet both spring from the same source and differ mostly in name。
This source is called 〃Mystery〃
Mystery upon Mystery；
The womb giving birth to All of being。
2
When people see beauty as beautiful；
They recognize other things as ugly。
When people see goodness as good；
They recognize other things as being bad。
Therefore existence and non…existence produce one another
Difficult and easy achieve each other
Long and short define each other
High and low rely on each other
Voice and accompaniment harmonize with one another
Front and back follow each other。
Therefore； the Sage acts without 〃doing〃
And teaches without words。
All things arise and she does not refuse them。
She creates； but does not possess
Accomplishes； but takes no credit
When finished； she doesn't dwel on it。
Because she does not dwel on it； it is always present。
3
Do not exalt people who are extraordinarily talented
Or the people will become competitive。
Do not value precious goods
Or the people will become thieves。
Do not make a public display of riches and finery
Or the people's hearts will be envious and discontent。
Therefore； the wise leader will empty their hearts of coveting
and fil their bellies with sustainance。He discourages their ambition
and strengthens their bones。
If the people are simple and free from desire；
the crafty will not dare to take advantage of them。
By practicing 〃not doing；〃 nothing will remain undone。
4
The Tao is like an empty pitcher；
Poured from； but never drained。
Infinitely deep； it is the source of All things。
It blunts the sharp；
Unties