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！
and to acclaim only heroic deeds；
to abandon economy； and to be selfish。
They are sick； who are not humble；
but try always to be first。
Only he who is compassionate
can show true bravery；
and in defending； show great strength。
Compassion is the means by which
mankind may be guarded and saved；
for heaven arms with compassion；
those whom it would not see destroyed。
68
WITHOUT DESIRE
An effective warrior acts
not from nihilistic anger；
nor from desire to kill。
He who wins should not be vengeful。
An employer should have humility。
If we wish for peace and unity；
our dealings with our fellow man
must be without desire for self…advantage；
and carried out without contention。
69
THE USE OF THE MYSTERIOUS TAO
Arguments may be won by waiting；
rather than making an aggresive move；
by withdrawing rather than advancing。
By moving without appearing to move；
by not making a show of strength；
but by conserving it well；
by capturing without attacking；
by being armed； but with no weapons；
great battles may be won。
Do not underestimate
those you enjoin in battle；
for this can result in losing
what is of greatest value。
When a battle is enjoined；
by remembering this；
the weaker may still win。
70
HIDDEN IDENTITY
Though the words of the sage are simple；
and his actions easily performed；
they are few among many；
who can speak or act as a sage。
For the ordinary man it is difficult
to know the way of a sage；
perhaps because his words
are from the distant past；
and his actions naturally disposed。
Those who know the way of the sage
are few and far between；
but those who treat him with honesty；
will be honoured by him and the Tao。
He knows he makes no fine display；
and wears rough clothes； not finery。
It is not in his expectancy of men
that they should understand his ways；
for he carries his jade within his heart。
71
WITHOUT SICKNESS
To acknowledge one's ignorance
shows strength of personality；
but to ignore wisdom is a sign of weakness。
To be sick of sickness is a sign of good health；
therefore the wise man grows sick of sickness；
and sick of being sick of sickness；
'til he is sick no more。
72
LOVING THE SELF
The sage retains a sense of awe； and of propriety。
He does not intrude into others' homes；
does not harass them；
nor interfere without request；
unless they damage others。
So it is that they return to him。
'Though the sage knows himself
he makes no show of it；
he has self…respect； but is not arrogant；
for he develops the ability to let go of that
which he no longer needs。
73
ACTING WITH A SUFFICIENCY
A brave man who is passionate
will either kill or be killed；
but a man who is both brave and still
might preserve his own and others' lives。
No one can say with certainty；
why it is better to preserve a life。
The virtuous way is a way to act
without contriving effort；
yet； without contriving it overcomes。
It seldom speaks； and never asks；
but is answered without a question。
It is supplied with all its needs
and is constantly at ease
because it follows its own plan
which cannot be understood by man。
It casts its net both deep and wide；
and 'though coarse meshed； it misses nothing in the tide。
74
USURPING THE TAO
If the people are not afraid of death；
they have no fear of threats of death。
If early death is common in the land；
and if death is meted out as punishment；
the people do not fear to break the law。
To be the executioner in such a land as this；
is to be as an unskilled carpenter
who cuts his hand
when trying to cut wood。
75
INJURING THROUGH GREED
When taxes are too heavy；
hunger lays the people low。
When those who govern interfere too much；
the people become rebellious。
When those who govern demand too much
of people's lives； death is taken lightly。
When the people are starving in the land；
life is of little value；
and so is more easily sacrificed by them
in overthrowing government。
76
AGAINST TRUSTING IN STRENGTH
Man is born gentle and supple。
At death； his body is brittle and hard。
Living plants are tender；
and filled with life…giving sap；
but at their death they are withered and dry。
The stiff； the hard； and brittle
are harbingers of death；
and gentleness and yielding
are the signs of that which lives。
The warrior who is inflexible
condemns himself to death；
and the tree is easily broken；
which ever refuses to yield。
Thus the hard and brittle will surely fall；
and the soft and supple will overcome。
77
THE WAY OF THE TAO
The Tao is as supple as a bow；
the high made lower； and the lowly raised。
It shortens the string which has been stretched；
and lengthens that which has become too short。
It is the way of the Tao to take from those
who have a surplus to what they need；
providing for those without enough。
The way of the ordinary person；
is not the way of the Tao；
for such people take from those who are poor
and give to those who are rich。
The sage knows that his possessions are none；
therefore he gives to the world；
without recognition； doing his work。
In this way he accomplishes
that which is required of him；
without dwelling upon it in any way；
he gives of his wisdom without display。
78
SINCERITY
There is nothing more yielding than water；
yet when acting on the solid and strong；
its gentleness and fluidity
have no equal in any thing。
The weak can overcome the strong；
and the supple overcome the hard。
Although this is known far and wide；
few put it into practice in their lives。
Although seemingly paradoxical；
the person who takes upon himself；
the people's humiliation；
is fit to rule；
and he is fit to lead；
who takes the country's disasters upon himself。
79
FULFILLING ONE'S OBLIGATIONS
When covenants and bonds are drawn
between the people of the land；
that they might know their obligations；
it is commonplace for many
to fail to meet their dues。
The sage ensures his dues are met；
'though not expecting others to do the same；
in this way he is virtuous。
He is without virtue of his own；
who asks of others that they fulfil
his obligations on his behalf。
The way of nature does not impose
on matters such as these
but stays with the good for ever；
and acts as their reward。
80
STANDING ALONE
A small country may have many machines；
but the people will have no use for them