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and without the basic necessities；
it is because taxes are excessive。
When the people of a nation are rebellious；
it is because the laws are out of
harmony with the population。
When the leaders of a nation are oppressive
in their confusion；
the people remember their oneness
and become indifferent to death。
Those who remember the oneness of Infinity
are indifferent to life and death
and consequently live in peace
and harmony。
76
The human body is born soft and supple；
after death it is hard and stiff。
Plants and trees are pliant and limber
when they sprout；
after death they are inflexible and
rigid。
Therefore； hard and inflexible
are characteristics of death。
Pliant and flexible
are characteristics of life。
Thus； an army that is inflexible will be conquered
and a tree that does not yield to
the wind will snap。
The hard and inflexible will succumb。
The pliant and flexible will endure。
77
The harmony of Infinity functions like
a bow and its string。
The upper part bends down；
the lower part raises up。
If the string is too long； it is made shorter；
too short and it is lengthened。
The nature of Infinity is balance；
excess gravitates to what is lacking。
The tendency of people is toward confusion
because those who have much
take from those who have little。
Those who are at one with Infinity and
live in peace and harmony
are not confused。
They do not accumulate what
they do not need
and are like a reservoir to those
who
are impoverished。
The sage lives in harmony
giving without expecting；
completing her tasks with indifference；
and maintaining a oneness with all things。
78
Nothing in the world is more submissive and
yielding
than water。
Yet nothing can equal it in cutting the inflexible
and eroding the hard。
The weak can subdue the strong
and the flexible outlasts the rigid。
This is common knowledge；
yet only a very few can practice it。
Therefore； the sages say；
She who is at one with the
disgrace of a nation
is worthy to be queen。
He who is at one with the
misfortunes of nations
is worthy to be king of kings。
The truth frequently seems paradoxical。
79
Conflict almost always leaves some resentment
regardless of the nature of a peaceful
resolution。
How does one achieve peace and harmony？
The sage fulfills her commitments
but does not demand others to fulfill theirs。
Those who are confused
demand others to fulfill their commitments
but are unconcerned with fulfilling
their own。
Infinity is indifferent。
It is at one with all people。
80
A peaceful nation has few people and
flows in harmony and oneness。
They have weapons of war but they have no
inclination to use them。
They are indifferent to death and indifferent
to living elsewhere。
They have boats and carriages
but seldom use them。
They have weapons of war but
no one displays them。
They live a simple life：
their food is nourishing；
their clothes are adequate；
their dwellings are secure。
They are at peace and in harmony
with all things。
Even though they live within sight
of a neighboring nation
and hear the sounds of dogs and
children；
they grow old and perish
without ever desiring to go there。
81
Truthful words are seldom passionate。
Passionate words are seldom truthful。
Peaceful men do not quarrel。
Those who quarrel are confused。
He who is at one with all things
knows Infinity。
He who has knowledge
is always confused。
The sage is never confused by accumulating。
The more he does for others；
the more he flows in harmony。
The more he gives to others；
the more he experiences peace。
Infinity manifests； nourishes and disintegrates
forever。
The sage flows in the peace and harmony
of oneness with all things。
English_Wrigley_TTK
Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse
English interpretation by
Ted Wrigley
Thanks to Ted！ Visit his site for his comments on his version
or send him an e…mail： twrigley@ea。oac。uci。edu
1
A path is just a path； a name is just a name
What is； is； without sense or differentiation
And only divides itself into things when we give names
Forget the names of things and you sense fit and flow
Use their names and you see uniqueness； significance
Each perspective is as true as the other
How can something be both fragmentary and complete？
There's a mystery here calling for a deeper perception
A perception from which all spirituality springs
2
Recognize beauty in the world and other things become ugly
Recognize goodness and other things become evil
Is and isn't create each other
Difficult and easy complete each other
Long and short form each other
High and low fill each other
Tone and word define each other
Front and back follow each other
All this is inescapable
Therefore the taoist acts without a plan； teaches without a text
She creates； but doesn't define
Nurtures； but doesn't lay claim
Accomplishes； but walks away
Because he walks away； what he does； lasts
3
Give rewards； and someone will fight for them
Prize rarities； and someone will try to steal them
Offer all that anyone could desire； and someone will be confused andangry
When one must lead； one must lead people back to themselves
Fill their needs but drain their compulsions
Harden their bones but soften their opinions
Where they feel the need to chase after fashion or stand for some cause
Be quiet and listen； so they will speak cautiously and hesitant toact
So long as they are cautious； all things will fall into place
4
The way is emptiness；
Yet practice it and it seems inexhaustible
Fathomless and still；
Yet all life seems to spring from it
It blunts sharp edges
Unravels knots
Softens glare
Settles the dust
It moves beneath all things； seen only in its effects
Where it came from no one can say
It was always there； the potential in nothingness
5
Nature is not well mannered
It watches creatures be born and die without comment
Nor is the taoist well mannered
People are born and they die； and that's as it should be
Life is like a fan
So long as it moves the breeze continues
But stop the one so you can master the other； and what's left to master？
Don't try to answer； you'll only frustrate yourself
Who can define life or death？？Knowing they are is enough。
6
Nature is perpetually fertile； like a river valley
This is the feminine principle； ever capable of producing
It expr