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They take away where there is need
And add where there is surplus。
Who can take his surplus and give it to the people？
Only one who possesses the Tao。
Therefore the sage acts without expectation。
Does not abide in his accomplishments。
Does not want to show his virtue。
78
Nothing in the world is softer than water；
Yet nothing is better at overcoming the hard and strong。
This is because nothing can alter it。
That the soft overcomes the hard
And the gentle overcomes the aggressive
Is something that everybody knows
But none can do themselves。
Therefore the sages say：
〃The one who accepts the dirt of the state
Becomes its master。
The one who accepts its calamity
Becomes king of the world。
Truth seems contradictory。
79
After calming great anger
There are always resentments left over。
How can this be considered as goodness？
Therefore the sage keeps her part of the deal
And doesn't check up on the other person。
Thus virtuous officials keep their promise
And the crooked ones break it。
The Heavenly Tao has no favorites：
It raises up the Good。
80
Let there be a small country with few people；
Who； even having much machinery； don't use it。
Who take death seriously and don't wander far away。
Even though they have boats and carriages； they never ride in them。
Having armor and weapons； they never go to war。
Let them return to measurement by tying knots in rope。
Sweeten their food； give them nice clothes； a peaceful abode and a relaxedlife。
Even though the next country can be seen and its doges and chickenscan be heard；
The people will grow old and die without visiting each others land。
81
True words are not fancy。
Fancy words are not true。
The good do not debate。
Debaters are not good。
The one who really knows is not broadly learned；
The extensively learned do not really know。
The sage does not hoard；
She gives people her surplus。
Giving her surplus to others she is enriched。
The way of Heaven is to help and not harm。
English_Ould_TTK
Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse
English by
Herman Ould； 1946
1
The Tao that can be expressed is not the Unchanging Tao；
The name that can be named is not the Unchanging name。
The Unnameable is that from which Heaven and Earth derived； leaving itself unchanged。
Thinking of it as having a name； let it be called the Mother of all things。
He who is without earthly passions and without desire can perceive the profound mystery of that Unmanifested
Existence。
He who has not rid himself of desire can perceive only the Manifest； with its differentiations。
Nevertheless； the Manifest and the Unmanifest are in origin the same。
This sameness is the Mystery of Mysteries； the deep within the deep； the Doorway into all Mystery。
2
Because the world recognized beauty as beauty； ugliness is known to be ugly。
Everyone knows goodness to be goodness； and to know this is to know what is not good。
Similarily； existence implies non…existence；
The hard and the easy complement each other； We recognize what is long by comparison with what is short；
High by comparison with low；
The shrill by comparison with the sonorous。
Before and after； earlier and later； back and front …
All these complelemnt one another。
Therefore the Sage； the self…controled mand； dwells in actionless activity； poised between contraries。
He teaches without employing words。
He beholds al things that have been made … he does not turn his back on them。
He achieves； but does not claim merit；
He does not call attention to what he does； not claim success。
Regarding nothing as his own； he loses nothing that is his。
3
If we donot exalt superior persons into positions of authority；
We shall not arouse jealous conflicts among the people。
If we do not prize unduly such objects as are hard to procure；
We shall do away with thieves。
If we do not make a show of things that excite desire；
The heart sof the people will remain calm and unconfused。
The Sage governs： By emptying people's hearts of desire and their minds of envy； and by filling their stomachs with
what they need；
By reducing their ambitions and by strengthening their bones and sinews；
By striving to keep them without the knowledge of what is evil and without cravings。
Thus are the crafty ones given no scope for tempting interference。
For it is by Non…action that the Sage governs； and nothing is really left uncontrolled。
4
The Tao is like a hollow vessel that yet cannot be filled to overflowing；
For it is bottomless and unfathomable。
Its infinite depth is the source of all things in the world；
The progenitor of all creatures。
Yet how still and changeless it seems！
In it and through it； all sharp edges are blunted； all knots untied； all glaring light softened； all dust smoothed away。
It is a deep and limpid pool that remains so forever。
We do not know whence it came； we only know it is：
Was it too the offspring of something other than itself？
As an image without substance the Tao is before all things that can be conceived。
5
Heaven and Earth do not claim to be kindhearted or pitiful。
To them all things and all creatures are as straw dogs brought to the sacrifice and afterwards discarded。
Nor is the Sage kindhearted or pitiful。
To him to the people are as straw dogs。
But the space between Heaven and Earth may be likened to a bellows：
It seems empty； and yet it gives all that is required of it。
The more it is worled； the more it yields。
Whereas the force puffed up by words is soon exhausted。
Better to hold fast to that which dwells within the heart。
6
The Spirit of the Valley is undying：
It is the Mysterious Mother。
The Doorway of the Mysterious Mother is the root from which grew Heaven and Earth。
And this Spirit endures unceasingly：
Nourishing and conserving unceasingly；
Without effort；
Itself inexhaustible。
7
Heaven is eternal： the Earth is ever…renewing。
Why？
Surely it is because they do not live for themselves：
That is why they endure。
And so it is with the Sage。
He keeps himself in the background；
And yet he is always to be found in the forefront。
He is ever unmindful of himself；
And yet he is preserved。
Is it not because he seeks no personal success that all his aims are fulfilled？
8
The highest good may be likened to water。
Water benefits all creatures yet does not strive or argue with them。
It rests content in those lowly places which others despise：
Thus it is very near to the Tao。
It is a virtue in a house that it stands firm upon the ground。
It is a virtue in a man that his thoughts should be profound。
In friendship； gentleness and good na