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Who can tell that one of them should be loathed by Heaven？
The Tao of heaven does not contend yet it surely wins the victory。
It does not speak； yet it surely responds。
It does not call； yet all things come of their own accord。 The net of heaven is vast； and its meshes are wide； yet from it； nothing escapes。
74
When the people are not afraid of death； what use is it to frighten them with the punishment of death？ If the people were constantly afraid of death and we could arrest and kill those who commit treacheries； who then would commit such？ Only the Supreme Executioner kills。 To kill in place of the Supreme Executioner is to hack instead of a great carpenter。 Now if one hacks in place of a great carpenter one can scarcely avoid cutting one's own hand。
75
The people starve。 Because their officials take heavy taxes from them； therefore they starve。 The people are hard to rule。 Because their officials meddle with affairs； therefore they are hard to rule。 The people pay no heed to death。 Because they endevour to seek life； therefore they pay no heed to death。
76
Man when living is soft and tender； when dead he is hard and tough。 All animals and plants when living are tender and fragile； when dead they become withered and dry。 Therefore it is said： the hard and the tough are parts of death； the soft and the tender are parts of life。 This is the reason why soldiers when they are too tough cannot carry the day； the tree when it is too tough will break。 The Position of the strong and great is low； and the position of the weak and tender is high。
77
Is not the Tao of heaven like the drawing of a bow？ It brings down the part which is high； it raises the part which is low； it lessens the part which is redundant （convex）； it fills up the part which is insufficient （concave）。 The Tao of heaven is to lessen the redundant and fill up the insufficient。 The Tao of man； on the contrary； is to take from the insufficient and give to the redundant。 Who can take from the redundant and give to the insufficient？ Only he who has Tao can。 Therefore the Sage does not horde。 The more he helps others； the more he benefits himself the more he gives to others； the more he gets himself。 The Tao of heaven does one good but never does one harm； the Tao of the Sage acts but never contends。
78
The weakest things in the world can overmatch the strongest things in the world。
Nothing in the world can be compared to water for its weak and yielding nature； yet in attacking the hard and the strong； nothing proves better than it。 For there is no other alternative to it。
The weak can overcome the strong and the yielding can overcome the hard： This all the world knows but does not practise。
Therefore the Sage says：
He who sustains all the reproaches of the country can be master of the land；
He who sustains all the calamities of the country can be king of the world。
These are words of truth；
Though they seem paradoxical。
79
Return love for great hatred。
Otherwise； when a great hatred is reconciled； some of it will surely remain。
How can this end in goodness？
Therefore the Sage holds to the left half of an agreement； but does not exact what the other holder ought to do。
The virtuous resort to agreement。
The virtueless resort to exaction。
The Tao of heaven shows no partiality；
It abides always with good men。
80
Supposing here is a small state with few people。
Though there are various vessels I will not have them put in use。
I will make the people regard death as a grave matter and not go far away。
Though they have boats and carraiges they will not travel in them。
Though they have armour and weapons they will not show them。
I will let them restore the use of knotted cords （instead of writing）。
They will be satisfied with their food。
Delighted in their dress；
Comfortable in their dwellings；
Happy with their customs。
Though the neighbouring states are within sight
And their cocks' crowing and dogs' barking within hearing；
The people （of the small state） will not go there their whole lives。
81
He who knows does not speak；
He who speaks does not know。
He who is truthful is not showy；
He who is showy is not truthful。
He who is virtuous does not dispute。
He who disputes is not virtuous。
He who is learned is not wise。
He who is wise is not learned。
Therefore the Sage does not display his own merits。
English_Taplow_TTK
Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse
English by
Alan B。 Taplow； 1982
Vorwort/Foreword
PREFACE
Since the days of Lao Tzu and the Ancient Sages； the Tao Te Ching must be among the most translated and interpreted of books。 So； you might be perfectly rational to question the value of still another Tao Te Ching。 But 。 。 。 This is how it happened 。 。 。
At Big Sur； the California coastline rises sharply out of the ocean presenting an overpowering presence。 On an unusually warm and sunny November afternoon； a small group leisurely explores the rocks at water's edge 150 feet below the Big House at Esalen。 Slowly coming together； they sit talking and shortly find themselves gathered around a recently retired physician who is relating 'unusual' tales of his small town practice in the Northern reaches of California。
As part of this group； my attention becomes increasingly intense as he tells stories of diagnosis and treatment using a form of hypnosis。 Helping patients relive earlier periods of their lives and taking them into past lives he would discover the causes of otherwise unexplained physical and mental problems。 He then describes how he used the I Ching in treatment of patients who were indecisive about surgery or deeply upset about an unpredictable prognosis for themselves or a family member。 The doctor would introduce them to the Yarrow Stalks and help them consult the I Ching for guidance。 He recounts a number of uncanny successes resulting from the 'I Ching； which itself is so completely new to my experience。
The next day； at the Esalen book shelves； my eyes find themselves drawn to a copy of the I Ching ； and next to it the beautiful Gia…Fu Feng Jane English translation of the Tao Te Ching。 Buying them both； a new world begins to unfold … a world possessing unity； duality； synchronicity； virtue； energies … a world of Tao； Yin and Yang； of Te； Chi and Shen。 Now I find my Esalen visit extending to include Catherine Elber's loving work with the 19 movements of Tai Chi Chih ； and I'm pretty well hooked on a study and experience of the Tao。
The following June finds me at John Brzostoski's course in Taoism at the New School； where John suggests the Tao Te Ching as basic reading。 Finding The Gia…Fu Feng/Jane English translation physically too large for my pocket； a smaller size translation is procured。 Predictably； with two of anything existing； there needs exist 〃Comparison。〃 In comparing the two translations； it follows that there exists differentiation … in this instance satisfaction and dissatisfact