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If they fear death； then only capture and execute those who cause disorder； turning the others away from doing likewise。 （The legalists who are lavish with the death penalty and believe it will sort everything out； are therefore wrong）。
The servant of death （heaven）； kills； （let him do it。 Let us not do his work。 He alone is capable of it）。 The man who wants to kill may end up like those who play with the carpenter's tools； and often lose a finger in their play。
75
If the people are hungry； it is because the prince eats up excessive sums of money （which he extorts from them）。
If the people are restive； it is because the prince does too much； （indisposes them by his innovations）。
If the people expose themselves lightly to death （in hazardous enterprises）； it is because he loves life too much； （love of well…being； of pleasure； of fame）。 He who does nothing in order to live； is wiser than he who harms himself in order to live。
76
When a man is born he is supple and weak （but full of life）； he becomes strong and powerful； and then he dies。
It is the same for plants； delicate （herbaceous） at first； then becoming woody at the time of their death。
He who is strong and powerful is marked for death； he who is weak and flexible is marked for life。
The great army will be defeated。 The great tree will be cut down。
Everything that is strong and great is in a poorer condition。 The advantage is always with the supple and the weak。
77
Heaven acts （with regard to men） like the archer who； bending his bow； makes the convexities straight and the concavities bulge； diminishing the greater and augmenting the lesser。 （Lowering the higher； and raising the lower）。
It takes away from those who have plenty； and adds to those who have little。 Whereas men （bad princes who bleed the people） do quite the opposite； taking away from those who lack （the people）； in order to add to those who have in abundance （their favourites） 。。。
Any superfluity ought to come back to the empire （to the people）； but only he who possesses the Principle is capable of that。
The Sage conforms himself to the Principle。 He influences without attributing the result to himself。 He accomplishes without appropriating his work to himself。 He does not claim the title of the Sage； （but keeps himself in voluntary obscurity）。
78
In this world there is nothing more supple and weak than water； and yet no one； however strong and powerful he may be； can resist its action （corrosion； wear； wave action）； and no being can do without it （ for drinking； growth； etc。）。
Is it clear enough that weakness is worth more than strength； that suppleness can overcome rigidity？ … Everyone agrees with this； but no one acts according to it。
The Sages have said： 〃He who rejects neither moral filth nor political evil is capable of becoming the chief of a territory or the sovereign of the empire。〃 （He who is supple enough to accommodate himself to all that； and not a rigid and systematic person）。 These words are quite true； even though they offend many。
79
When the principle of a dispute has been settled （some accessory grievances） always remain； and things do not return to the state they were in before； （bruises remain）。
（Therefore the Sage never questions it； despite his right）。 Keeping his half of the agreement； he does not exact the execution （of what is written）。
He who knows how to conduct himself after the Virtue of the Principle； lets his written agreements sleep。 He who does not know how to conduct himself thus； exacts his due。
Heaven is impartial。 （If it were capable of some partiality）； it would give advantage to good people； （those who act as in C。 It would overwhelm them； because they ask for nothing）。
80
If I were king of a little state； of a little people； I would take care to use （put in charge） the few dozen capable men that this state would contain。
I would prevent my subjects from traveling； by making them fear possible accidental death so much that they would not dare climb into a boat or carriage。 I would prohibit all use of weapons。
As for writing and calculating； I would oblige them to go back to knotted cords。 Then they would find their food tasty； their clothes fine； their houses peaceful； and their manners and customs agreeable。
（I would prevent curiosity and communication to the point where） my subjects would hear the noise of the cocks and dogs of the neighbouring state； but die from old age without having crossed the border and had relationships with the people there。
81
（I have finished。 Perhaps you may find my discourse lacks something； is not very subtle； and is scarcely wise）。 This is because native frankness does not dress itself up；
natural directness avoids quibbling；
common sense can dispense with artificial erudition。
The Sage does not hoard； but gives。 The more he does for men； the more he can do； the more he gives them； the more he has。
Heaven does good to all； doing no evil to anyone。 The Sage imitates it； acting for the good of all； and opposing himself to no one。
English_Wing_TTK
Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse
Chinese … English by
R。L。 Wing； 1986
1
The Beginning of Power
The Tao that can be expressed
Is not the Tao of the Absolute。
The name that can be named
Is not the name of the Absolute。
The nameless originated Heaven and Earth。
The named is the Mother of All Things。
Thus； without expectation
One will always perceive the subtlety；
And； with expectation
One will always perceive the boundary。
The source of these two is identical；
Yet their names are different。
Together they are called profound；
Profound and mysterious；
The gateway to the Collective Subtlety。
2
Using Polarity
When all the world knows beauty as beauty；
There is ugliness。
When they know good as good；
Then there is evil。
In this way
Existence and nonexistence produce each other。
Difficult and easy complete each other。
Long and short contrast each other。
Pitch and tone harmonize each other。
Future and past follow each other。
Therefore； Evolved Individuals
Hold their position without effort；
Practice their philosophy without words；
Are a part of All Things and overlook nothing。
They produce but do not possess；
Act wihtout expectation；
Succeed wtihout taking credit。
Since； indeed； they take no credit； it remains with them。
3
Keeping Peace
Do not exalt the very gifted；
And people will not contend。
Do not trasure goods that are hard to get；
And people will not become thieves。
Do not focus on desires；
And people's minds will not be confused。
Therefore； Evolved Individuals lead others by
Opening their minds；
Reinforcing their centers；
Relaxing their desires；
Strengthening their characters。
Let the people always act without strategy or desire；
Let the clever not venture to act。
Act