04道德经英译本85种-第31节
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tions＇。
Thus the Sage ever uses his goodness in saving others； and therefore there are none who are abandoned。 He ever uses his goodness in saving the inanimate creation； and therefore there are none of these who are abandoned。 This is called being doubly enlightened。
Wherefore the virtuous man is the teacher； or patron； of the bad man； while the bad man is employed as material； on which to work； by the virtuous man。 If the bad man does not reverence the other as his teacher； nor the good man love the former as his material； then； in spite of any wisdom either may possess； they are both greatly blinded。 This doctrine is both important and sublime。
28
He who； conscious of manly strength； guards a womanly weakness； becomes the channel of the whole Empire ＇to which all minor streams converge＇。 Being thus the channel of the whole Empire； the cardinal virtues ＇###＇ will never depart from him； and he will revert to a condition of childlike innocence。
He who； conscious of light； keeps in obscurity； will become a model for the whole Empire。 Being a model for the whole Empire； the cardinal virtues will never fail him； and he will revert to the Unconditioned。
He who； conscious of his glory； guards humility； will become the valley of the whole Empire。 Being the valley of the Empire； he will revert to his original simplicity。 When this simplicity is distributed； q。d。； brought into play； the man becomes a thing of utility ＇to the State＇。
* That is； an implement。 Compare the expression ### a man of talent； an able officer。 The Commentator refers us to the Lun Yü； Book V； chap。 3； q。v。
The Sage employs men of this simplicity； and advances them to high rank； therefore his administration is on a grand scale； and never comes to an end。
29
When a man desires to obtain the Empire； and govern it ＇by acting on this principle of simplicity＇； I see that he does so in spite of himself。 The insignia of royalty may not be used by such。
* The sacred vessels； or tripods； of the Empire were those made after the semblance of the constellation ### by the Yellow Emperor。 See K慳ng Hsi； under the character ###。 The idea of the Commentator； which is exceedingly difficult to catch； is that the man who embraces the simplicity of TAO； referred to in the previous chapter； should； to be consistent； have nothing to do with the pomp and trappings of Imperial state。 It is true that the rendering of ### by 〃used〃 is a liberty； and the idea apparently is that in the reign of such an Emperor as Lao Tsze is supposing such things should not even be made。
Those who make them will break them； those who clutch at them will lose them。 For among the things of the world there are those who lead and those who follow； there are ejaculations of grief and ejaculations of gladness； there are those who are strong and those who are weak； there are those who sustain loads and those who are good for nothing。 For this reason the Sage puts away excess； display； and pride。
30
Those who use TAO in assisting their Sovereign do not employ soldiers to force the Empire。 The methods of government they adopt are such as have a tendency to react upon themselves。 Where garrisons are quartered； briars and thorns spring up梣。d。； the land is deserted by the people。 Disastrous years inevitably follow in the wake of great armies。
Wise rulers act with decision； and nothing more。 They do not venture to use overbearing measures。 They are decided without self…conceit； or boasting； or pride。 They are decided in spite of themselves； and without presuming on brute force。
After a man has arrived at the prime of his strength； he begins to age。 This is attributable to his not possessing TAO。 Those who do not possess TAO die before their time。
31
The finest weapons of war are implements of disaster。 All creatures hate them； therefore those who are possessed of TAO make no use of them。
The ideal man； in his own house； regards the left hand as the more honourable。 Those who use weapons of war； give honour to the right棧s being that in which arms are brandished＇。 Weapons are implements of disaster； they are not the implements employed by the ideal man。 If he ever uses them； he does so because he cannot help it。 He regards tranquillity and passionlessness as supreme。
Victory in war is not a beautiful thing。 Those who see beauty in it are such as take delight in killing men。 It is impossible for those who take delight in killing others to obtain the suffrages of the Empire。
In matters of joyful import； the left…hand is the more highly esteemed； in matters of disaster； the right…hand。 The general second in command occupies the left…hand position ＇in the war…chariot＇； it is the general…in…chief who is stationed on the right。 The meaning of this is that the latter is placed similarly to a chief mourner at a funeral梣。d。； in an inauspicious position。 Having been instrumental in killing multitudes of people； he should weep bitterly with pity and compassion。 Having gained a victory in battle； he thus still occupies the position of ＇chief＇ mourner at a funeral。
32
TAO remains ever nameless。 However insignificant may be the simplicity ＇of those who cultivate it＇ the Empire does not presume to claim their services ＇as Ministers＇。
* The Commentator points out that even the friendship of those eminent for TAO has often been sought in vain by Princes； how much more difficult； then； is it； to secure their help in subordinate positions！
If Princes and Monarchs could but preserve this simplicity； every creature in the world would submit itself to them； Heaven and Earth would be in mutual accord； and shower down sweet dew； the people would need no laws； but live in harmony of themselves。
It was in the beginning that a name was fabricated ＇for TAO＇。 This name once existing； Heaven； also； may be known； and such knowledge ensures the indestructibility ＇of the doctrine＇。
The presence of TAO in the world may be compared to streams ＇which ever flow＇； and mountain…gorges ＇which are indestructible＇； in their union with rivers and seas ＇which are unfathomable＇。
33
They who know others are shrewd； self…knowers are enlightened。 Those who overcome others have bodily strength； self…vanquishers have determination。 Those who know when they have enough are rich。 Those who act with determination or perseverance have strength of will。 Those who lose not what they have learnt梩he TAO梤etain it always。 Those who； up till death； are not lost ＇to TAO＇； enjoy posthumous activity。
* The text is simply ###。It means that their works and doctrines live after them； as Confucius may be said to be still alive in China。 The idea appears identical with that of the Positivists。
34
The Great TAO is all…pervasive； it may be seen on the right and on the left。
All things depend upon it； and are produced； it denies itself to none。
It achieves its works of merit； but has no name or reputation ＇among men＇。 With tenderness it nourishes all things； yet claims no lordship over them。
It is ever passionless； and may be named among the smallest things。
* In this sentence I have found it almost impossible to embody the explanation given by the Commentary。 It runs thus：？##。
All things submit to it； yet it claims no lordship over them； it may be called great。
Thus the Sage to the end of his life never exalts himself； and thus he is able to achieve great things。
35
If the Great Simulachrum梣。d。； the image or 'idea' of TAO梑e obtained； the Empire will be for ever free from harm。 There will be tranquillity； peace； and universal joy； ＇the attraction of which＇； acting as a bait； will detain the passing traveller。
The utterance of TAO is insipid； it has no flavour。 If looked at； it appears not worth seeing； if listened to； it appears not worth hearing； but if used； it is found inexhaustible in resources。
36
When one feels a desire to concentrate it ＇in one's own heart＇； it is imperatively necessary to display it openly。
When one feels a desire to cultivate it in its pliant phase； it is imperatively necessary to fortify and strengthen ＇one's own powers＇。
When one feels a desire to abandon or neglect it； it is imperatively necessary to stir up one's mind afresh ＇in its pursuit＇。
If anyone feels a desire to obtain it； it is imperatively necessary that it should be imparted to him。
By this means； the hidden phases ＇of TAO＇ will become clear。 The weak and pliable overcomes the strong and hard。
A fish cannot leave the depths。 The treasures of a State should not be employed to influence the people。
* Commentator： The ### are the valuable and handsome ornaments or jewels； which if Princes use to ###； then； in the words of Mencius； ###。
37
TAO is ever inactive； yet there is nothing it does not do。
If feudal Princes and Sovereigns can but preserve it； all creatures will reform themselves。 But if； once reformed； desires should again arise； I would restrain them by the exercise of the Simplicity which is without a name。 This nameless Simplicity will preve
