04道德经英译本85种-第310节
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The skillful person strikes the blow and stops；
without taking advantage of victory。
Bring it to a conclusion but do not be vain。
Bring it to a conclusion but do not be boastful。
Bring it to a conclusion but do not be arrogant。
Bring it to a conclusion but only when there is no choice。
Bring it to a conclusion but without violence。
When force is rlsed； youthful strength decays。
This is not the way of Tao。
And that which goes against the Tao
will quickly pass away。
31
Weapons are ill…omened things。
Among gentle people the left side
is the place of honor when at home；
but in war the right side is the place of honor。
Weapons are not proper instruments for gentle people；
they use them only when they have no other choice。
Peace and quiet are what they value。
They do not glory in victory。
to glorify it is to delight in the slaughter of people。
Those who delight in the slaughter of people will
never thrive among all that dwell under heaven。
The army that has killed people
should be received with sorrow。
Conquerors should be received with the rites of mourning。
32
The Tao is forever nameless。
Though the Uncarved Block is small；
it is not inferior to anything under heaven。
lf leaders could keep hold of it；
the ten thousand things would submit to them freely。
Heaven and earth would unite and sweet dew would fall。
The people would live in harmony
without any law or decree。
Only when the Block is carved are there names。
As soon as there are names
it is timc to stop。
Knowing when to stop prevents trouble。
All under heaven will return to the Tao
as brooks and streams flow home to the sea。
33
Knowing others is to be clever。
Knowing yourself is to be enlightened。
Overcoming others requires force。
Overcoming yourself requires strength。
To know that you have enough is to be rich。
Push through and you may get your way；
but return home and you will endure。
Live out your days and you have had a long life。
34
The great Tao covers everything like a flood。
lt flows to the left and to the right。
The ten thousand things depend upon it
and it denies none of them。
It accomplishes its task yet claims no reward。
It clothes and feeds the ten thousand things
yet it does not attempt to control them。
Therefore； it may be called 〃the little。〃
The ten thousand things return to it；
even though it does not control them。
Therefore； it may be called 〃the great。〃
So it is that the True Person does not wish to be great
and therefore becomes truly great。
35
Hold on to the Great Image
and all under heaven will approach you。
Coming to you and not being harmed；
they will find rest； peace； and security。
A passing guest will pause at the sound of music
and the smell of fancy food。
By comparison the Tao is mild and flavorless。
It is not solid enough to be seen；
nor loud enough to be heard。
Yet； it lasts forever。
36
That which is to be shrunk
must first be stretched out。
That which is to be weakened
must first be strengthened。
That which is to be cast down
must first be raised up。
That which is to be taken
must first be given。
There is wisdom in dimming your light。
For the soft and gentle
will overcome the hard and powerful。
Fish are best left in deep waters。
And； weapons are best kept out of sight。
37
The Tao never strives；
yet nothing is left undone。
If leaders were able to adhere to it
the ten thousand things would develop
of their own accord。
If after they have developed
they experience desires to strive；
they can bury those desires
under the nameless Uncarved Block。
The nameless Uncarved Block can protect
against desire。
When desires are restrained there will be peace；
and then all under heaven will be at rest。
THE SECOND BOOK： Te （Virtue）
38
A person of high virtue is not conscious of virtue
and therefore possesses Virtue。
A person of little virtue tries to be virtuous
and therefore lacks Virtue。
A person of high vir…tue does not make a fuss
and is not seen。
A person of little virtue always makes a fuss
and is always seen。
A truly good person functions without ulterior motive。
A moralist acts out of private desires。
A ritualist acts and； when no one responds；
rolls up a sleeve and marches。
When we lose the Tao； we turn to Virtue。
When we lose Virtue； we turn to kindness。
When we lose kindness； we turn to morality。
When we lose morality； we turn to ritual。
Ritual is the mere husk of good faith and loyalty
and the beginning of disorder。
Knowledge of what is to come
may be a flower of the Tao；
but it is the beginning of folly。
Hence； the well…formed person relies on what is solid
and not on what is flimsy；
on the fruit and not the flower。
Therefore； such a person lets go of that without
and is cont：ent with this within。
39
From ancient times these things have arisen from the One：
Heaven is clear because of the One；
The earth is firm because of the One；
The Spirit is strong because of the One；
The valley is full because of thc One；
The ten thousand things reprodnce because of the One；
Leaders are able to lead because of the One。
All of this comes from the One。
If heaven were not clear it would soon split。
If the earth were not firm it would soon bend and break。
If the Spirit were not strong it would soon wear out。
If the valley were not full it would soon dry up。
If the ten thousand things did not reproduce
they would soon die out。
If leaders could not lead they would soon fall。
Therefore； greatness has its source in the little。
The low is the foundation of the high。
Princes call themselves 〃alone；〃 〃helpless；〃 〃worthless。〃
Is this not acknowledging a humble root~
Enumerate the parts of a carriage
and you have not defined a carriage。
Better to resound like stone chimes
than to tinkle like jade bells。
40
Returning is the direction of the Tao。
Yielding is the way of the Tao。
The ten thousand things are born of Being
and Being is born of Nonbeing。
41
The wise student on hearing the Tao
diligently puts it into practice。
The average student on hearing the Tao
keeps it one minute and loses it the next。
The mediocre student on hearing the Tao
laughs at it loudly。
If this student did not laugh it would not be the Tao。
Therefore； the ancient proverb says：
The bright path seems dull。
The path that goes torward seems to lead backward。
The even path seems up and down。
The greatest whiteness seems soiled。
High Virtue seems like a canyon。
Abundant Virtue seems deficient。
Vigorous Virtue seems limp。
Simple Virtue seems faded。
The greatest square has no corners。
The greatest vessel takes long to complete。
The greatest note is hard to hear。
The greatest image has no shape。
The Tao is hidden and narneless；
yet； it is the Tao alone that supports all thing？；
and brings them to completion。
42
The Tao gives birth to the One。
The One gives birth to two。
Two gives birth to three。
And three gives birth to the ten thousand things。
The ten thousand things have their backs in the shadow
while they embrace the light。
Harmony is achieved by blending
the breaths of these two forces。
People dislike the words 〃alone；〃 〃helpless；〃 〃worthless；〃
yet this is how Princes describe them selves。
So it is that sometimes a thing is increased
by being diminished and
diminished by being increased。
What others teach I also teach：
〃A violent person will not die a natural death。〃
I shall make this the basis of my teaching。
43
The most yielding of all things
overcomes the hardest of all things。
That which has no substance
enters where there is no crevice。
Hence； I know the value of action without striving。
Few things under heaven bring more benefit than
the lessons learned from silence and
the actions taken without striving。
44
Your integrity or your body：
Which is more important？
Your body or your possessions
Which is worth more？
Gain or loss：
Which is more harmful？
Thus it is that the miser will pay much。
The hoarder will suffer great loss。
Be content with what you have
and you will not be disgraced。
Know when to stop
and you will be preserved from danger。
Only in this way will you long endure。
45
Great accomplishment seems incomplete；
yet its use is not impaired。
Great filllness s
