04道德经英译本85种-第225节
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Simplicity appears sullied。
The great square has no corners。
The great vessel takes long to fashion。
The great note is soundless。
The great image has no form。
The Way hides in namelessness。
It is good at giving and perfecting。
42
The Way creates one： one creates two：
Two creates three： three creates every being。
All beings carry the yin on their back
And embrace the yang in their arms；
Their gentleness achieves harmony。
Men hate the words 慳bandoned； humble； and unfortunate？br》 Yet rulers call themselves by these names。
So things are sometimes augmented
By being diminished；
And diminished by addition。
I teach what others also teach：
慣he violent won抰 die a natural death。？br》 I adopt this as my basic principle。
43
The softest thing in the world
Subdues the hardest thing in the world。
Non…being enters impenetrable space。
That is why I know the power of non…action。
Very few people in the world
Know how to teach without words
And profit from non…action。
44
Which is dearer
Your fame or your self？
Which is more precious
Your self or possessions？
Which is worse
To gain or to lose？
So； great love
Leads to great sacrifice。
Great riches
Lead to great losses。
Know what is sufficient
And you won抰 be humbled。
Know when to stop
And you抣l be free from danger。
Then you抣l last a long time。
45
Great perfection seems flawed。
Yet use will not diminish it。
Great fullness seems empty
Yet use will not exhaust it。
Great straightness seems bent。
Great skill seems awkward。
Great eloquence seems stilted。
Movement overcomes cold。
Stillness overcomes heat。
Clear and calm；
One can be a ruler of the realm。
46
When the Way reigns in the land；
Horses go back to ploughing the fields。
When the Way does not reign in the land；
War…horses breed on the frontiers。
There抯 no crime worse
Than to pander to one抯 desires。
There抯 no sickness worse
Than not knowing what is enough。
There抯 no greater catastrophe
Than the lust for gain。
Whoever knows what is enough
Will be happy with his fate。
47
You can know the universe
Without leaving your house。
You can see the ways of heaven
Without looking out of your window。
The further you go
The less you know。
That抯 why the wise achieve without moving；
Name what is； without needing to see it；
Accomplish great things without action。
48
In pursuing one抯 studies
Something抯 added each day。
In practising the Way
Something抯 subtracted each day。
It grows less and less
Until one reaches non…action。
When one reaches non…action
Nothing is left undone。
It抯 always through not interfering
That one can control the realm。
Whoever loves to interfere
Will never control the people。
49
The wise have no fixed opinion。
They take the peoples？opinion as their own。
Those who are good I treat as good。
Those who are bad I treat as good。
That抯 the perfection of goodness。
Those who are honest I treat as honest。
Those who are dishonest I treat as honest。
That抯 the perfection of honesty。
Among the people the wise reserve their opinion
And live in harmony with them。
The multitude satisfy their eyes and ears；
And the wise treat them as little children。
50
Pursuing life and pursuing death
A third will be followers of life；
A third will be followers of death。
And a third chase life into the realms of death。
Why？ Because they want to live to excess。
I抳e heard that those who control their life；
Never encounter tigers or rhinos on their travels；
Are never harmed by weapons when in a fight。
There抯 nowhere for the rhino to plant its horn。
There抯 nowhere for the tiger to set its claw。
There抯 nowhere for the weapon to lodge its blade。
Why？ Because they抳e abolished the realm of death。
51
The Way creates them。
Virtue raises them。
Things shape them。
Events mature them。
So the myriad creatures value the Way
And all honour virtue。
The Way is valued and virtue honoured
Not by force； but of its nature。
So the Way creates them and raises them；
Rears them and nourishes them；
Develops and matures them；
Feeds and shelters them。
It gives them life without possession。
It benefits them but asks no thanks。
It holds but imposes no authority。
Such is the mysterious virtue。
52
All things have an origin。
The origin could be called the Mother。
When you know the Mother；
You can know the child。
When you know the child；
Return to clasp the Mother；
And you抣l find no danger
To the end of your life。
Block up the openings。
Shut the doors；
And you抣l not fail
To the end of your life。
Unblock the openings；
Add to your problems；
You抣l be beyond help
To the end of your life。
To see the subtle is called discernment。
To hold to the weak is called strength。
Use discernment but return to the light。
This is called pursuing the constant。
53
If I had a little knowledge
I抎 walk the great Way；
And only fear straying from it。
The great Way is broad；
But people like sidetracks。
The Court is immaculate
But the fields are full of weeds。
The barns are empty
But the rulers are finely dressed；
Swords by their sides；
Gorged with food and drink；
Owning too much wealth。
This is called glorious theft。
This is far away from the Way。
54
The well…rooted cannot be dislodged。
The tightly…held will not be lost。
Generation after generation
Worship their ancestors forever。
Cultivate it in yourself
Its virtue will be real。
Cultivate it in the family
Its virtue will overflow。
Cultivate it in the village
Its virtue will extend。
Cultivate it in the state
Its virtue will flourish。
Cultivate it in the realm
Its virtue will be all…pervasive。
Assess the self by considering yourself。
Assessthe family by considering the family。
Assess the village by considering the village。
Assess the state by considering the state。
Assess the realm by considering the realm。
How do I know the realm is like that？
By means of this。
55
One who possesses true virtue
Is like a new…born infant。
Poisonous insects won抰 sting it。
Savage creatures won抰 bite it。
Birds of prey won抰 claw it。
Though its bones are weak；
And its muscles feeble；
Its grip is still strong。
Though it doesn抰 know about sexual union
Its sexual parts are already active；
This is because it has perfect vitality。
It cries all day without becoming hoarse；
This is because it抯 in perfect harmony。
To know this harmony is called the constant。
To know the constant is called enlightenment。
Fuelling the vital spirits is called disastrous。
Mind impelling the breath is called violence。
The creature that ignores what exists from of old
Is described as going against the Way。
What goes against the Way
Will come to a swift end。
56
One who knows does not speak。
One who speaks does not know。
Block up the openings。
Shut the doors；
Blunt the sharp：
Loose the knots：
Dim the glare：
Follow old tracks。
This is called mysterious oneness。
You can抰 possess it but can抰 escape it。
You can抰 benefit it or harm it。
You can抰 honour it or debase it。
So it抯 valued throughout the realm。
57
Govern the state by being honest。
Wage war by being clever。
Achieve the realm by not meddling。
How do I know it is like that？ By this：
The more regulations
The poorer the people。
The more sharp weapons
The more troubled the country。
The cleverer the people
The more distractions。
The wider the knowledge of law；
The more there are thieves and rogues。
So the wise say：
I take no action and the people transform themselves。
I remain still and the people set themselves right。
I don抰 interfere and the people themselves prosper。
I am free of desires and the people of themselves
Hold to the un…carved block。
58
When government meanders
The people are straightforward。
When government interferes
The people are cunning。
The fortunate leans on the unfortunate；
The unfortunate crouches beneath the fortunate。
Who knows when to stop？
Where is the simple？
The simple becomes cunning；
The good becomes perverse。
The people have certainly
Been wrong for a long time！
So the wise are foursquare
But not sharp。
Have corners
But don抰 cut。
Extend themselves
But spare others。
Shin
