04道德经英译本85种-第237节
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69
Military strategists have said
When you don't think you have a good defense；
take the offense
When you don't think you have a good offense；
retreat。
Retreat is called marching in place
rolling up your sleeves but not showing any muscle
the rose in the fisted glove
confronting without threatening。
In life there is nothing worse than
getting mad and attacking
and finding
nothing there 。。。
？br》
Only by losing your possessions
and your self
can you have no enemy。
In war； when armies are recruited and conscripted
when battles are waged
the victor will be the reluctant nation
who takes no joy or glory from fighting。
70
These words of mine
are easy to translate and understand and discuss and practice。
So why is it
nobody anywhere
understands them？ practices them？
My words
have culture； have reason； have a system
but try to make sense of them and you will fail；
try to apply them like rules and you will fail。
This is why people do not understand
my words。
So few understand it
but then
that is its value
guarded like
a pond
frozen
in the winter。
71
Knowing the depths of your own ignorance is healthy。
Thinking that you know
what you really don't
is a cancer。
Only by realizing that you don't know
can you be healed。
The way to heal this cancer
is to recognize your false knowledge
as a disease；
thereby freeing yourself
of it。
72
If your authority is not sufficient
relax
let go
the power of the universe will suffice。
Do not restrict others
or make them do things you want
let go
and they will stop running from you。
The wise
know themselves；
know their power
but do not show it；
know their own quality
but do not use praises or titles。
Let go
of that
take this。
73
People who are brave and who like dares
kill and destroy。
People who are brave and have no taste for daring
live and create。
Either may be appropriate；
both may be good and bad
still；
the universe has no taste for blood；
neither does the follower of the way。
The universe never tries to win
still；
it always does；
never tries to speak
still；
there is always an answer；
never tries to command
still；
everything is ordered。
The net of the universe is wide ；
its mesh is wide
still；
nothing escapes。
74
People not afraid of death
cannot be threatened with
death。
What； then； is the use of threats？
Even if people feared death
and were afraid of its strangeness；
who should be responsible
for carrying out the threat
and killing them？
Famine； rain； drought； hurricanes； snow； tornadoes
are more than sufficient。
For people to do the work of nature
is like
assuming the job of a master carpenter
and doing the sawing
you would be lucky
not to lose a finger。
75
People starve because
governments and religions and businesses spend
too much money
elsewhere。
That is the only reason there is hunger。
People demonstrate and rebel because
religions and businesses and governments make laws
to restrict them。
That is the only reason there isn't peace。
People have no fear of death because
businesses and governments and religions are
so busy trying
to survive。
That is why death carries so little fear for common people；
for having so little to get out of life themselves；
their lives are fuller。
76
At birth a human is soft and flexible；
at death a human is hard and fixed。
In life all things； plants and animals；
are soft and flexible；
but
in death all things
are hard and fixed。
What is hard and fixed is death's friend；
what is soft and flexible is life's friend。
The hard and fixed weapon will break；
the hardwood tree will be cut down；
the high shall be made low；
the first shall be last；
the poor and the meek
will win。
77
The way of the universe
is like
pulling the string of a bow
the bow bends
the top descends
the bottom ascends。
The way of the universe is
to take from the wealthy
and give to the poor。
The way of humanity is
to take from the poor
and give to the wealthy。
There is only one way that a person can have so much
that there is enough to give to poor and wealthy alike。
How？
By following the way；
directing but never with force；
accomplishing but never praised；
better than others
but unknown。
78
Nothing is softer； more flexible； or more giving than
water
nothing can resist it
nothing can take it away
nothing can endure it
there is no way to hurt it。
The flexible overcomes what resists it；
the giving overcomes what takes it；
the soft overcomes the hard；
but who uses this knowledge？
？br》
Only the person who knows the earth
as intimately as the trees and grasses
can rule the earth；
only the person who accepts
the guilt and evil of humanity
can rule the universe。
Straight tongues seem forked。
Straight talk seems crooked。
79
Stopping wars
feeding the hungry in foreign lands
building inner…city housing projects
not using racist or sexist language
will not succeed
because the deeper problems are not solved。
Stay at home
claiming nothing from others
giving everything
and the universe will give to you。
80
A small land
with small groups of people
using horses instead of cars
plows instead of tractors；
themselves and their families attached；
dying on the land rather than leave it。
Ships never boarded； airplanes never sat in；
missiles never aimed； guns never loaded。
Ribbons around fingers to remind us
instead of newspapers
simple talk
simple food
simple clothing
simple fireplace
simple work
Imagine growing up and dying
hearing the neighbors' dogs and chickens and cows
but never
having been
there。
81
True words are not pleasant to hear
sweet…sounding words are not true。
Good people do not prove things by argument
those who prove things by argument are not good。
Wisdom is different from book learning
book learning means little wisdom。
Wise people have no need to store things up
when all has been given to others
they have more than before。
The path of the universe
is to attain the end
without means
do
without acting。
English_Kwok_TTK
Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse
Chinese … English by
Kwok； Palmer； Ramsay； 1993
1
The Tao that can be talked about is notthe true Tao。
The name that can be named is notthe eternal Name。
Everything in the universe comes outof Nothing。
Nothing … the nameless is the beginning；
While Heaven； the mother is the creatrixof all things。
Follow the nothingness of the Tao；
and you can be like it； not needinganything；
seeing the wonder and the root ofeverything。
And even if you cannot grasp this nothingness；
you can still see something of theTao in everything。
These two are the same only calledby different names
… and both are mysterious and wonderful。
All mysteries are Tao； and Heaven istheir mother：
She is the gateway and the womb…door。
2
Beauty and mercy are only recognized bypeople
Because they know the opposite； whichis ugly and mean。
If the people think they know goodness
Then all they really know is whatevil is like！
Nothing； and Heaven share the sameroot …
Difficulty and ease are a part ofall work。
The long and the short are in yourhands；
Above and below exist because theyeach do；
What you want and what you say shouldbe the same。。。
Neither future nor past can existalone。
the sage has no attachment to anything；
and he therefore does what is rightwithout speaking
by simply being in the Tao。
Life； all life began without words。
Life is made…and no one owns it。
The Tao is neither selfish nor proud。
The Tao is generous and graceful inwhat it does
Without ever claiming any merit
And the sage's greatness lies
in taking no credit。
3
If the sage refuses to be proud
then people won't compete for hisattention：
If the sage does not buy treasures
Then the people won't want to stealthem：
If the sage governs with vision
Then his people will not go wrong。
So in his wisdom； he restrains himself：
… by not being greedy for food
… by not dominating the State
… by keeping himself heal
