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True living would take from those with too much
Enough for those with too little；
Whereas man exacts from those with too little
Still more for those with too much。
Now what man shall have wealth enough to share with all men
Save one who can freely draw from the common means？
A sane man needs no better support； no richer reward；
Than this common means；
Through which he is all men's equal。
78
What is more fluid； more yielding than water？
Yet back it comes again； wearing down the rigid strength
Which cannot yield to withstand it。
So it is that the strong are overcome by the weak；
The haughty by the humble。
This we know
But never learn；
So that when wise men tell us；
'He who bites the dust
Is owner of the earth；
He who is scapegoat
Is king；'
They seem to twist the truth。
79
If terms to end a quarrel leave bad feeling；
What good are they？
So a sensible man takes the poor end of the bargain
Without quibbling。
It is sensible to make terms；
Foolish to be a stickler：
Though heaven prefer no man；
A sensible man prefers heaven。
80
If a land is small and its people are few；
With tenfold enough to have and to do；
And if no one has schooled them to waste supply
In the country for which they live and would die；
Then not a boat； not a cart
Tempts this people to depart；
Not a dagger； not a bow
Has to be drawn or bent for show；
People reckon by knots in a cord；
Relish plain food on the board；
Simple clothing suits them well；
And they remain content to dwell
In homes their customs can afford。
Though so close to their own town another town grow
They can hear its dogs bark and its roosters crow；
Yet glad of life in the village they know；
Where else in the world shall they need to go？
81
Real words are not vain；
Vain words not real；
And since those who argue prove nothing
A sensible man does not argue。
A sensible man is wiser than he knows；
While a fool knows more than is wise。
Therefore a sensible man does not devise resources：
The greater his use to others
The greater their use to him；
The more he yields to others
The more they yield to him。
The way of life cleaves without cutting：
Which； without need to say；
Should be man's way。
English_Byrn_TTK
Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse
English interpretation by
Tormond Byrn； 1997
1
The way that can be told of is hardly aneternal； absolute； unvarying one；
the name that can be coded and given is noabsolute name。
Heaven and earth sprang from something else：the bright nameless；
the named is but the said mother that rearsthe ten thousand creatures of heaven and earth； each after its kind。
He that rids himself of base desire can seethe secret essences；
he that didn't and reached high being； hecan see outcomes。
Still the two are the same； the secret andits manifestations came from the same ground； the same mould； but anywaysound different …
they're given different names where theyappear。
They can both be called the cosmic mystery；awesome deep
or rather more secret than so…called mystery。
There's the deeper mystery： the gate and doorwayfrom which issued all secret essences； yes； all subleties；
and the subtle mysterial opening homewards。
Call it the door mystery or golden secretof all life。
2
When the people of the world see beauty asbeauty；
the notion of ugliness pops up along withthat
And equally if every one recognize virtueas virtue； if they all know the good as good； the recognition of adjacentevil is wont to rise。
So： Being and not…yet…being interdepend ingrowth； grow out of another； they can produce each other。
And hard and easy interdepend in completion；
long and short interdepend。 They test eachother in contrast。
High and low determine one another and interdependor distinguish each other in position。 So it seems。
Pitch and mode give harmony to one another；tones； sound and voice interdepend in basic； functional harmony；
Front and back give sequence to one another。
The couples follow each other … interdependin company； so to speak。
From this the wise man relies on doing nothingin the open； it's wu…wei。 And he spreads doctrines without true or falsewords； by oddly wordless influence。
All things appear； and he hardly turns awayfrom the creatures worked on by him：
Some he gives solid； good life； he hardlydisowns his chosen ones。
He hardly takes possession of anyone underfair conditions。
He rears his sons in earthly ways； but neitherappropriates nor lays blatant claim to any one。
He acts； but doesn't rely on his outer； visiblesmartness or miracle…working ability。 He very often claims no credit。
At times he controls them； but hardly leanson any of them。
Because he lays claim to no credit； the handycredit can hardly be taken away from him。
Yes； for the very reason that he hardly callsattention to what he does； he isn't ejected at once。
3
Stop looking for rare； moral persons （hsien）to put in power。
There will be jealousies among people； jealousiesand strife。
If we cease to set store by products thatare hard to get； there will be less outright thieves。
If the people never see such things as excitedesire； their hearts can remain placid and undisturbed。
Therefore the wise one rules by emptyingtheir hearts ＇like the clown＇。 He fills their bellies； weakens their brightnessand toughens their bones；
ever striving to make the people withoutknowledge。
He sees to it that if there are any who arebright and clever； they dare not interfere。
Through his non…do actions all ＇such subjection＇runs well ＇for some time＇。
4
Dao is like an empty vessel that yet canbe drawn from
without ever needing to be filled。
It's without bottom；
the very breeder of all things in the world。
In it all sharpness is blunted；
all tangles untied；
all glare tempered；
all turmoil smoothed。
It's like a deep pool that never dries。
Was it too the child of something else？
We can hardly tell。
A substanceless image of all things seemedto exist before the progenitor that we hardly know of。
5
The universe seems without mercy； quite ruthless；
in that wider perspective all things arebut as ritual straw dogs。
The wise man too is hard as nail； to himthe people are but as straw dogs to throw。
Yet heaven and earth and all that lies betweenis like a bellows；
empty； yet yielding a supply that hardlyfails。
Work it； and more comes out。
Whereas the force of words is soon spent。
It seems far better to keep what's in theheart。
So hold to the heart core and a regular mean。
6
The valley spirit never dies。
It's named the mystic woman。
And the gate of the profound woman is theroot that heaven and earth sprang from。
It's there wit