04道德经英译本85种-第406节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
it gains influence in the small country。
And when a small country defers to a large country；
it gains influence in the large country。
So either accept a subordinate position and gain influence
or assume a subordinate position and gain influence。
A large country cannot ignore its wish to nurture
and nourish many people at the same time；
just as a small country cannot ignore its wish
to join in with other people。
Thus they both get what they want；
and so it is fitting for the larger country to act with humility。
62
Every Breath We Take： A grand display or a sincere gesture？
The Tao is the shelter and the refuge of all things。
It is the treasure of the good and the protector of the bad。
People get respect by being polite；
and correct behavior increases their status。
Why expect those we may not approve of to abandon such practices？
When the Son of Heaven is crowned
and the three chief ministers are appointed；
even though we present them with handfuls of jade amulets
and seals carried before a team of four horses；
it is not as good as kneeling down
and making this Tao our presentation。
Why did the ancient ones so value this Tao？
Did they not say：
The seeker finds； and the guilty are forgiven？
Therefore it is the most valued thing in the world。
63
In Easy Stages： How to handle a difficult task
Act without putting on an act。
Do things without getting entangled in them。
Taste that which has no flavor。
Whether big or small； many or few；
respond to hatred with understanding。
Take on the difficult by doing what is easy。
Take on the big by doing what is small。
In the world； difficult tasks should be done in easy stages。
In the world； big affairs should be broken down into their details。
That is why to the very end； wise people make no big deal of things； and that is how big things get done。
Promises lightly made are hardly trusted。
The easier it looks the more difficult it probably is。
This is why wise people treat everything as difficult；
and so in the end； nothing is difficult for them。
64
Getting Things Done： Beginning and ending things
What is at rest is easy to grasp。
What has not yet happened is easy to plan for。
What is fragile is easily broken。
What is minute is easily scattered。
Act before it happens。
Exert control before it gets out of hand。
A tree that takes both arms to embrace starts off as a tiny shoot。
A nine story terrace starts with a basket of earth。
A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step。
Those who force things to happen are defeated by them。
Those who cling to things lose them。
This is why wise people do not force issues and are not defeated。
They do not cling and they do not lose。
When people are engaged in enterprises；
it is always when they have nearly succeeded that they fail。
If we are as careful at the end as we were at the beginning；
then we will not fail in our ventures。
This is why wise people want not to want；
and do not value rare and expensive goods。
They learn what is not studied
and return to what others have ignored。
They assist all things in realizing their true nature；
yet they do not presume to interfere with them。
65
I Am Not a Crook： Being too clever for our own good
In olden times those who practiced the Tao
did not enlighten the people； but left them simple。
People are difficult to govern when they are too clever。
Those who use cleverness and cunning to govern a country
are the thieves of the country。
Those who do not use cleverness to govern a country
are the blessed of the country。
Knowing these two things shows us the method people use。
To always know what method is being used
is called Profound Understanding。
Profound Understanding is deep and far reaching；
it helps all things return to the Tao
and realize The Great Acceptance。
66
Unpretentious： Taking the low ground
The reason why rivers and oceans are kings of the one hundred valleys
is because they are good at taking the low ground。
Thus they can be the kings of a hundred valleys。
This is why：
If wise people want to be above others；
they must speak from a position below them。
If they want to be in front of others；
they must place themselves behind them。
This is why ：
When wise people are in a high position； people are not burdened；
and when they lead them； people come to no harm。
This is why ：
The whole world happily supports them and will never despise them。
Since they do not oppose anyone no one can oppose them。
67
The Three Treasures： Compassion； moderation and humility
Everyone in the world says my Tao is the greatest
and that it is unique。
It resembles nothing else。
It is great； because there is nothing like it。
If there were anything like it；
it would have become insignificant long ago。
I have three treasures that I always keep and protect：
The first I call compassion。
The second I call moderation。
The third I call humility。
With compassion we can be brave。
With moderation we can be generous。
With humility we can develop our talents。
Now if we abandon compassion and think we can be brave；
If we abandon moderation and think we can be generous；
If we abandon following and think we can be first；
then we will surely die。
If with compassion we engage in battle； we will win；
and our defenses will be secure。
When Heaven comes to our rescue；
it is with a protective circle of compassion。
68
The Warrior： The best ways to handle conflict
The best warrior is not war…like。
The best fighter is not angry。
The best at defeating the enemy do not engage them。
The best at handling people are low key。
This is called the virtue of non…aggression。
This is called being able to get people to give their best。
This is called uniting with the most ancient
and highest principle of Heaven。
69
The Way of Peace： A good defense is the best offense
Those who use weapons say：
I do not try to take the offensive but would rather take the defensive。
I do not try； to advance an inch but would rather retreat a foot。
This is called： making no moves； not spoiling for a fight；
challenging no opponent； nor wielding any weapon。
There is no greater disaster than taking the enemy lightly。
If I take the enemy lightly I am close to losing my treasures。
When opposing armies are evenly matched；
the one that feels pity will gain the victory。
70
Easy to Understand： Understanding and applying the Tao
My words are very easy to understand；
and very easy to apply。
Yet no one in the world can understand them；
and no one can apply them。
My words are from an ancient source；
my deeds are from a noble authority。
It is because people don抰 understand this；
that they don抰 understand me。
Those who understand me are rare；
those who follow me； are precious。
This is why； while wise people may wear coarse woolen cloth；
they carry precious jade in their hearts。
71
Self…Knowledge： Knowing when we don抰 know
To know that we don抰 know is best。
Not to know that we don抰 know is a flaw。
Therefore wise people are not flawed
because they know their flaws to be flaws。
Since they know their flaws to be flaws they are flawless。
72
Oppression： Pushed beyond our limits； nothing to lose
People who live fearlessly； gain the greatest personal power。
Do not take advantage of others； and do not despise their lives。
If we do not despise them； they will not despise us。
Therefore wise people know themselves
without having to assert themselves。
They love themselves without being vain。
For this reason they reject that and choose this。
73
The Net of Heaven： Both life and death require courage
It takes courage and daring to kill；
and it takes courage and restraint to live。
There is the possibility of benefit or harm in each of these。
As for those things that Heaven detests
who knows the reason why？
Even for wise people this is a difficult question to answer。
The Way of Heaven is not to fight； yet successfully win。
Is not to speak； yet skillfully respond。
Is not to summon； yet all come willingly。
Is calm； yet plans are accomplished。
The net of Heaven is vast。
And though its mesh is wide； nothing is lost。
74
The Executioner抯 Song： The death penalty
If people did not fear death；
Then what would be the use of threatening them with death？
In fact people do fear death； and they do act strangely；
But I would not； because of this；
�
