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！
It is the stillness of the feminine which overcomes the masculine。
Keeping still is to keep to the lower position。
Therefore the large state can conquer the small state by giving way to the small state。
And the small state can conquer the large state by submitting to the large state。
Thus； in order to conquer one must yield；
And those who conquer do so by yielding。
Since the large state wishes to take in more people；
And the small state wishes to serve the people；
Both have their wishes met。
It is right for a large state to yield。
1。 i。e。 the centre to which all things tend to gravitate。
62
The Ten Thousand Things have their source in the Tao。
It is the treasure of the good man； and the refuge of the bad。
Fine words can purchase honour。
Good deeds can earn respect。
Even if a man is bad； that is no reason to abandon him。
Therefore when the Son of Heaven？is crowned and the three ministers installed；
Rather than offering gifts of jade discs and a team of four horses；
It is better to remain seated and offer the Tao。
Why did the ancients value the Tao so highly？
Did they not say； 態y means of the Tao；
Those who seek it shall find it； and the guilty shall be forgiven？
This is why it is so valued by the world。
1。 i。e。 the Emperor。
63
Act by not acting。
Work without effort。
Savour the tasteless。
See much in the few and greatness in the small。
Reward injury with kindness。
Plan the difficult while it is still easy。
Accomplish greatness in small things。
Under Heaven； difficult things consist of easy things。
Under Heaven； great actions consist of small deeds。
The Sage never attempts anything great；
And thus accomplishes greatness。
He who takes his promises lightly will not be trusted。
He who thinks everything is easy will meet many difficulties。
This is why the Sage regards everything as difficult；
And therefore never meets with any difficulties。
64
Things which keep still are easy to hold。
Events yet to happen are easy to plan。
Things that are fragile are easy to break。
Things that are small are easy to lose。
Deal with things before they happen。
Put things in order before chaos sets in。
A tree as big as a man抯 embrace grows from a tiny shoot；
A nine…storey terrace begins as a mound of earth；
A journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step。
Those who take action； fail。
Those who grasp for things； lose them。
Therefore the Sage takes no action； yet never fails；
He grasps for nothing； yet never loses。
In managing their affairs people often fail at the point of success。
So attend carefully to the end as much as to the beginning；
And there will be no failure。
Therefore the Sage desires to be free from desire。
He does not prize rare treasures。
He learns to unlearn his learning；
And he brings the people back to what they have lost。？br》 Thus he furthers the natural completion of the Ten Thousand Things；
And refrains from acting。
1。 i。e。； the Tao
65
In ancient times； those who excelled in the pursuit of Tao did not seek to enlighten people； but to keep them in their natural state of ignorance。
The reason for this is that when people have too much knowledge they are difficult to govern。
Therefore； those who rule by increasing knowledge； do so to the detriment of the state；
And those who rule by decreasing knowledge； do so to the benefit of the state。
Knowing these two things is to follow the ancient standard。
To follow the ancient standard is called mystical Virtue。
Mystical Virtue is deep and far reaching。
By its practise； all things return to their original natural state
Of complete harmony。
66
Rivers and seas become the kings of the hundred streams
Because they keep to the lower position。
Thus they become their kings。
Therefore the Sage； wishing to rule over the people；
Must use humble words before them；
And wishing to lead the people；
He must keep himself behind them。
Thus the Sage rules over the people； and they do not feel oppressed；
He leads the people； and they do not feel obstructed。
Therefore all beneath Heaven support him and do not tire of him。
Because he does not compete； no one can compete with him。
67
All under Heaven say that my Tao is great and resembles nothing。？br》 Because it is great； it resembles nothing。
If it did resemble anything； it would a long time ago have become small。
There are three treasures which I keep and value。
The first is compassion；
The second is frugality；
And the third is not daring to be ahead of others。
Being compassionate； one can be courageous。
Being frugal； one can be generous。
Not daring to be ahead of others； one can lead the world。
But nowadays； there are those who abandon compassion； yet wish to be courageous；
They reject frugality； yet wish to be generous；
They forsake not daring to be ahead of others； yet wish to lead the world。
Their downfall is certain。
Being compassionate； one will win in attack and be strong in defence。
By giving compassion； Heaven provides and protects。？
1。 i。e。 the Tao cannot be compared to or likened to any of the things normally experienced。
2。 This line is ambiguous between 慔eaven is compassionate in providing and protecting？and 慣he way that Heaven provides and protects is by making men compassionate？ （See Feng and English； 1973； and Lau； 1963； for the latter interpretation； and Chan； 1969； and Ch抲； 1985； for the former。）
68
He who makes a good soldier is not violent。
He who makes a good fighter is not angry。
He who makes a good conqueror does not compete。？br》 He who is skilful in making the best use of people； places himself under them。
This is called the Virtue of not competing。
This is called making use of people。
This is called matching the sublimity of Heaven。？
1。 i。e。 he overcomes his enemies without the need to fight them。
2。 i。e。 accomplishing things； like Heaven； without striving。
69
The strategists have a saying：
慖 dare not take the offensive； but would rather take the defensive。？br》 慖 dare not advance an inch； but would rather retreat a foot。？br》
This is called marching without moving；
Rolling up one抯 sleeve without showing one抯 arm；
Defeating an enemy without confrontation；
Being armed without weapons。
No misfortune is greater than underestimating an enemy。
Underestimating my enemy almost makes me lose my treasures。？br》
Therefore； when two sides takes arms against each other；
It is the side with the most reluctance which wins。
1。 Strictly； 慖 dare not be the host； but would rather be the guest。？That is； the host； being at home； must take the initiative； and is in this sense active whereas the guest takes the passive role。
2。 Wang Pi says that these three tre