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04道德经英译本85种-第328节

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of Unity。 There will then neither be love nor hate; profit not loss; favour or disgrace。 It follows that in the universe there is nothing nobler。

  57

  Rule the Empire with uprightness。 The Empire is won by non…concern。 How do I know this? Thus: The more superstitious restrictions in the land the poorer the people; the more the people are concerned with the administration the more benighted the state and the clans; the more craftiness is displayed the greater the
  number of novelties which arise。 The more legislation there is the more thieves and robbers increase。
  It is for these reasons that a sage has said: 揑 do nothing; but the people spontaneously reform。 I love tranquility; and the people spontaneously become upright。 I have no concerns; and the people naturally grow wealthy。 I am without desire; and of their own free will the people revert to primitive simplicity。?br》
  58

  When the government is not in evidence the people are honest and loyal。
  When the government is meddlesome the people are in want。
  Misery! Happiness lies by its side! Happiness! Misery lurks underneath。 He who understands the end has progressed beyond limitations。
  The regular becomes irregular; the good becomes unpropitious。 This has bewildered men from time immemorial!
  Hence the Holy Man is a square which has not been cut; and whose corners have not been planed; he is straightforward without being reckless; and bright without being dazzling。

  59

  For the regulation of mankind and the service of heaven nothing equals reserve power。 Reserve power means a speedy submission。 Speedy submission implies a rich store of energy。 A rich store of energy means the subjugation of everything。 Everything being subdued none knows his limits。 His limits being
  unknown his sovereign power is assured; having the root of sovereignty which endures for long。
  This may be described as a 揹eep taproot;?and a 揹urable peduncle;??the perpetual vitality and continued manifestation of the Tao。

  60

  Govern a great state as you would fry a small fish。
  Employ the Tao to establish the Empire and the daemons will display no energy; no that they are devoid of energy; but that they will not use it to man抯 detriment; (further) not only will man suffer no hurt from the daemons but he will not be injured by the sages。
  When neither harm; the attributes of the Tao blend and converge。

  61

  A great country is lowly。 Everything under heaven blends with it。 It is like the female; which at all times and in every place overcomes the male by her quietude。 Than quietude there is nothing that is more lowly。
  Therefore a great state gains the smaller state by yielding; while the smaller state wins the greater by submission。 In the one case lowliness gains adherents; in the other it procures favours。
  For a strong state there is no safer ambition than to desire to gather men and care from them; and for the weaker state there is nothing better than the ambition to become an indispensable servant。
  When each obtains what each desires the strongest should be the humblest。

  62

  The Tao has of all things the most honoured place。
  It is the good man抯 treasure; and that which protects the bad man。
  Its excellent words may be displayed before all。 Its noble deeds assist all men。
  Why should a man be cast aside because he is bad?
  Hence when the sovereign has been enthroned; and the chief ministers have been appointed; though one escorted by a team of horses; present the jade symbol of office; it would not equal the stilling of the heart; and entering this Tao。
  What is the reason that this Tao has been held in such esteem from the beginning? May we not say that is it because those who seek receive; and those who are guilty escape by its (help)? Hence it becomes the most valued things under heaven。

  63

  Practice non…action。 Be concerned with non…concern。 Taste the flavourless。 Account the small as great; and the few as many。 For hatred return perfection。
  Manipulate difficulties while they are easy。 Take in hand great things while they are insignificant。 Every difficult thing in the world had its origin in what was at first easy。 Every great thing in the world was once significant。 Therefore the Holy Man makes no distinctions and thus he is able to accomplish that which is great。
  Small faith can be placed in promises lightly made。
  The easier a matter is reckoned the more difficult it proves at the last; for this reason the Holy Man sees difficulties in everything; and therefore he encounters no difficulties。

  64

  Whatever is at rest can easily be taken in hand; while yet no omens have appeared plans can be easily formed。
  What is brittle is easily broken; what is minute is easily scattered。
  Act before necessity arises; regulate before disorder commences。
  The trunk that can scarcely be embraced sprang from a tiny shoot; the tower that is nine stories high was raised from a mound of earth; the journey of a thousand li commenced when the foot was placed on the ground。
  Who makes; mars; who grasps; loses。
  The Holy man practices non…action; hence he never injures; he never grasps; hence he never loses。 The majority are too eager for results in attending to their affairs; and spoil everything。 There would be no such failures were they as cautious at the end as at the beginning。
  Hence the Holy Man desires passionlessness; he does not prize articles that are rare; he studies to be unlearned; he reverts to that which the masses pass by。 In this way he promotes the natural development of things without venturing to interfere。

  65

  From the most ancient of times those who have practiced the Tao have depended on the simplicity of the people rather than on their adroitness。
  When the people are difficult to control it is because they possess too much worldly wisdom。
  Who governs by worldly wisdom is a robber in the land; who governs without out is a blessing to the state。
  To know these two axioms is to become a model。 To understand how to be a model is indeed the mystery of energy。
  Verily; deep and far…reaching is this mystery of energy。 It is the opposite of all that is visible; but it leads to universal concord。

  66

  That which enables the rivers and the seas to become the rulers of all the water…courses in their ability to remain in the lowest; it is on this account that they are the rulers of them all。 In like manner the Holy Man; if he wishes to direct the people must speak of himself as subject to them; if he wishes to lead them he must
  put himself in the background。 Hence the Sages are supreme; but the people are not burdened; they are in the vanguard; but the people are not harmed。 For this reason the whole Empire delights to exalt them; and no one feels annoyance。 Because they do to strive there is none who can strive with them。

  67

  It was once generally affirmed that the greater the Self the more impossible it was to compare it with anything else。 Now it is just this greatness which makes it incomparable; should; however; a comparison be demanded; it would have to be described as the eternal; which is imperceptible。 Now the Self has three
  treasures; to which it clings as to inseparables: the first is compassion; the second; self…restraint; the third; nowhere venturing to claim precedence。
  Compassionate ?therefore irresistible!
  Self…restrained ?therefore enlarged!
  Nowhere venturing to claim precedence ?therefore efficient!
  Nowadays men cast compassion on one side; yet expect to be irresistible! They discard self…restraint; yet look for enlargement; they forget to retire; yet demand precedence! ?this is death。
  As regards compassion; rely on it when you would contend; and you will overcome; rely on it when you would protect; and you will succeed。 Heaven is ever ready to deliver because of the protection compassion brings。

  68

  The most skillful warriors are not warlike; the best fighters are not wrathful; the mightiest conquerors never strive; the greatest masters are ever lowly。
  This is the glory of non…strife; and the might of utilization; these equal heaven; they were the goal of the ancients

  69

  Military commanders have a saying:
  I dare not act as host but only as a guest; rather than advance an inch I would retire a foot。
  This marching without moving; bearing the invisible arm; regarding the enemy as if he were not; grasping the sword that is not。
  There is no calamity greater than making light of the enemy; to make light of the enemy is to endanger my retention of the treasures。 Hence once the opposing forces have met it is the pitiful who conquer。

  70

  It is very easy to comprehend my teachings and to put them into practice。 Yet there is no one in the world who is able either to comprehend; or to practice them。
  There is an originating principle for speech; an authoritative law for conduct; but because this knowledge is lacking I am unknown。 Those who know Me are few; those who imitate Me are worthy。 Hence the Holy Man wears coarse garments; but carries a jewel 

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