04道德经英译本85种-第143节
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＇When＇ using the Tao to manage the world
Its demons are powerless。
＇It抯＇ not ＇exactly＇ that its demons are powerless
＇But that＇ their powers do not harm people。
Not ＇only is it＇ that their powers do not harm people
＇But＇ the sages also do not harm people。
Both do not reciprocate harm。
This is the reason ＇their＇ virtues mix and thereupon return。
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That kingdom that is great
Is modest and flowing：
The intersection of the world。
The female of the world。
The female； always by means of gentleness； overcomes the male。
Therefore； ＇being＇ gentle is being modest。
Therefore：
The great kingdom； by means of modesty ＇toward＇ the small kingdom
Receives the small kingdom。
The small kingdom； by means of modesty ＇toward＇ the great kingdom
Receives the great kingdom。
Therefore：
Some are modest in order to receive。
Some are modest and are received。
The great kingdom does not inordinately desire
To annex livestock and people。
The small kingdom does not inordinately desire
To come into the service of people。
＇So that＇ they both get what each one desires
That which is the great ＇kingdom＇ should become modest。
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That which the Tao is：
A deep obscurity among the ten…thousand things。
The treasure of kind people。
The sanctuary of unkind people。
Flattering speech can be used to buy and sell honor。
Flattering deeds can be used to increase ＇the position of＇ people。
The unkind among people？br》 Why abandon them to Existence？
Therefore； ＇when＇ establishing the emperor
And placing the three high officials
Even though there are salutations ＇made＇
And ＇so many＇ jade…wares ＇that it takes＇
An advancing team of four horses ＇to present them＇
＇Even this is＇ not as good as sitting down
And offering this Tao。
Those from of old who considered this Tao to be valuable？br》 Why ＇did they do so＇？
＇Is it＇ not said：
揟he seeking thereby attain；
The guilty are thereby delivered from evil？
Therefore； ＇it＇ become＇s＇ to the world what is precious。
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Do ＇things＇ without 揹oing？＇them＇。
Work without working。
Taste without tasting。
＇Make＇ the great small
＇And＇ the many few。
Respond to adversity with ＇this＇ virtue。
Seek the difficult through the easy。
Manage the great through the minute。
Difficult matters in the world must be done through the easy ones。
Great matters must be done through the minute ones。
Thus； the sages at no time do great ＇things＇。
This is the reason they can achieve the great ＇things＇。
Those who make frivolous promises are certainly bereft of sincerity。
Too much ease most certainly ＇results in＇ too much difficulty。
Therefore do the sages
＇Treat things＇ as though they ＇were＇ difficult
And so they are； throughout ＇their lives＇； without difficulties！
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The stabilized is easy to grasp。
The not…yet…begun is easy to plan for。
The brittle is easy to break。
The tiny is easy to scatter。
Act upon it while it does not yet exist。
Govern it while it is not yet chaotic。
The tree ＇as thick as＇ joined arms embraced
Comes into existence at an insignificant height。
The platform of nine stories is built by piling up dirt。
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a ＇single＇ step。
Those who contrive； ruin them。
Those who grasp； lose them。
Therefore； the sages
Do not contrive and therefore do not ruin。
Do not grasp and therefore do not lose。
The undertakings of the people：
＇They see＇ matters frequently ＇through＇ to near…completion
But ruin them ＇toward the end＇。
Act with care in the end just as in the beginning
＇And you＇ will not ruin the matter。
Therefore； the sages
Desire not to desire
And do not value goods that are hard to get。
Learning 搖n…learning？br》 They return to the place the masses of people have ＇all＇ passed by。
Therefore； they assist the true natures of the ten…thousand things
And do not dare to contrive。
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Those of old who were good at governing ＇with＇ the Tao
Did not thereby enlighten the people。
＇That＇ would thereby cheat them。
The difficulty of people to govern
Is because of their excessive cleverness。
Therefore； to use cleverness to govern the kingdom
Is ＇to be＇ a thief to the kingdom。
Not to use cleverness to govern the kingdom
Is ＇to be＇ a blessing to the kingdom。
Those who understand these both
Also examine the System。
Always understanding and examining the System
Is called Mystic Virtue。
Mystic Virtue is mysterious！
Profound！
It grants counter…intuitive things！
Then ＇you＇ are truly indeed
The utmost and greatest comfort ＇to your people＇。
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Those who are ＇in＇ the position where the large rivers ＇meet＇ the sea
Can thereby become the king of the hundred mountain streams。
Because they are skilled at humbling themselves
Is the reason they can become the king of the hundred mountain streams。
Therefore； the sages
Wishing to be above people
Must ＇do so＇ by means of speaking humbly to them。
Wishing to be first ＇among＇ people
Must ＇do so＇ by means of ＇placing＇ themselves behind them。
Therefore； the sages
Are placed on top； and the people are not burdened。
Placed in front； and the people are not harmed。
Therefore； the world is glad to push ＇them＇ forward
And does not get tired ＇of them＇。
Because they do not contend
Is the reason no one in the world
Is able to contend with them。
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Everyone in the world calls my Tao 揼reat？br》 As if nothing resembled it。
Precisely because it is great
Is the reason it seems that nothing resembles it。
Supposing it resembled ＇something＇？br》 Long…standing indeed its pettiness would be ＇for＇ man！
I have three treasures。
Keep and protect them。
The first is called 搈otherly love？br》 The second is called 搈eagerness？br》 The third is called 搉ot daring to be foremost in the world。？br》
Motherly love is the reason I can be brave。
Meagerness is the reason I can be expansive。
Not daring to be foremost in the world
Is the reason I can achieve magnanimous leadership。
To desist today from motherly love and so also bravery
From meagerness and so also expansiveness
From being behind and so also being in front？br》
Is Death indeed。
Those fighting by means of motherly love
Are necessarily victorious
Because ＇their＇ defense is completely solid。
Heaven will help them
And
With motherly love
Protect them。
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Those who are skilled at being warriors are not warlike。
Those who are skilled at fighting are not angry。
Those who are skilled at overcoming enemies do not engage ＇them＇。
Those who are skilled at managing people act humbly toward them。
This is called the virtue of non…contention。
This is called the power of managing people。
This is called merging with Heaven； the Oldest of Old。
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＇About＇ using soldiers； there exists a saying：
揥e dare not act as lords but rather as guests。
＇We＇ do not dare to advance an inch but rather retreat a foot。？br》
This is called
Prevailing without prevailing
Repelling without an arm
Throwing ＇them＇ out without resisting ＇them＇
Holding ＇them＇ without a fight。
There is no misfortune greater than trivializing an enemy。
＇If we＇ trivialize an enemy； how many funerals ＇will be＇ our 搑eward？
Therefore
＇When＇ opposing armies clash with each
Those who mourn are in fact the winners。
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My words are very easy to understand。
Very easy to practice。
There are none in the world who can understand ＇them＇。
None who can practice ＇them＇。
Words have an ancestor。
Affairs have a sovereign。
Precisely because one does not understand ＇this＇
Is the reason one does not understand me。
Those who understand me are rare。
Those who follow me are prized。
Therefore； the sages
Are covered in coarse cloth
＇But carry in their＇ bosoms a jewel。
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Knowing 搉o…knowing？is best。
Not to know ＇this＇ 搆nowing？is a fault。
Only those who take faults to be faults
Are therefore without fault。
The sages are without fault
For they take faults to be faults。
Only those who take faults to be faults
Are therefore without fault。
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The people do not fear might
That imitates the Great Might to the extreme。
Do not disrespect their dwelling places。
Do not hate their homelands。
It is only because one does not hate
That one is therefore not hated。
Therefore； the sages
Know themselves but do not display themselves。
Are kind to themselves but do not prize themselves。
Thus； leave that and take up this。
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