04道德经英译本85种-第455节
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it is fitting for the larger state to lie low。
62
The Path is the Alembic of the myriad creatures；
it is the treasure of the good person；
and that which is treasured BY the 'bad。'
Beautiful words can be traded；
Noble deeds can be used as gifts of honor。
Why should we reject even the 'bad' others offer us？！
Therefore； when a Child Of Heaven is enthroned；
or a Triune Ministry installed；
although they may have large and valuable ornaments
and be preceded by teams of four horses；
it would be better for them to sit down
and make progress in THIS！
Why did the ancients value THIS so highly？
Did they not say；
〃Seek and ye shall find；
Repent and thou shalt be forgiven〃？
Therefore THIS is valued by all under heaven。
63
Act by Doing Nothing Much Personal；
handle affairs through noninterference。
Taste what has no flavor；
regard the small as great； the few as many。
Repay resentment with DEI…ty's virtues。
Undertake difficult tasks
by appreciating what is easy about them。
Do great deeds
by focusing on their little details。
All difficulties under heaven arise from what is simple；
all great things under heaven depend upon little details。
Thus； Sages never strive to do what is great；
therefore they can achieve greatness。
One who lightly agrees
is seldom believed；
One who thinks everything is going to be easy
encounters many problems！
Consequently； even Sages consider things difficult；
and thus； find them easier than they thought； in the end。
64
What is secure is easily grasped；
what has no omens is easily forestalled；
what is brittle is easily split；
what is diffuse is easily dispersed。
Act before need arises；
Bring order before disorder begins。
A tree you could barely wrap your arms around
began as a downy shoot；
A terrace nine layers tall
began with a single basketful of earth；
An ascent of a hundred steps
begins beneath one's foot。
Who 'acts' fails。
Who grasps…on loses。
Sages do not 'act'
therefore they do not fail；
they do not grasp…on
and therefore they do not lose。
In pursuing their affairs；
people often fail when close to success。
Therefore； if one is cautious at both end and beginning；
there will be no failures。
Thus Sages desire to be free of avarice；
and do not prize goods that are hard to come by。
They learn not to be 'learned'
and return to what others leave behind。
Thus they can help the myriad creatures to be natural；
for they dare not 'act！'
65
The ancients who walked the Path
did not seek to enlighten people with it；
they used it； rather； to relax them。
The people are hard to 'rule' if they are too 'sophisticated。'
Therefore； ruling a state through 'information' actually weakens thestate；
ruling a state through natural simplicity brings DEI…ty into the state。
One who is always mindful of these two types grasps a great paradigm；
mindfulness of this paradigm is 〃mystical virtue。〃
Deep and far runs this Mystical Virtue！
It runs counter to worldly things。。？until they reach the greatSea！
66
The River and the Sea can be Kings
over a hundred valley…streams
because they are good at lying below them。
If Sages want to be be over the people； in teachings；
they must put themselves beneath them。
If one wishes to lead the people；
one must stand behind them。
Thus； one may lead the people without offending them；
one may oversee the people with one's teachings without burdening them；
everyone will happily push one forward without tiring of one's example；
and is this not because one is free of competition？
Because one does not compete with the people； none can oppose you。
67
Everybody say I am great；
great but 'quirky。'
Now； precisely because I am 'quirky' I can BE great；
were I 'conventional' I would long ago have been declared 'common。'
I have always had three treasures that I guard and cherish。
The first is compassion； the second is simplicity； and the third
is daring to not out…do everyone in the world。
Now； because I am compassionate； I find I can be brave；
because I am simple； I can be generous；
because I dare to not out…do everyone in the world；
I find I can lead in the finishing of tasks。
If I； today； were to
be courageous while forsaking compassion；
be generous while forsaking simplicity；
get ahead while forsaking the hindmost；
that would be my end！。。 for
compassion in war brings true victory；
in defense brings invulnerability。
Whomsoever heaven would defend
it surrounds with a bulwark of compassion。
68
A good warrior is not belligerent。
A good fighter does not anger。
A good conqueror does not dislike his enemy。
One who is good at employing others puts themself below them。
This is called 〃the virtue of non competitiveness。〃
This is called 〃utilizing others。〃
This is called 〃parity with heaven；〃
…the pinnacle of the Ancient Masters。
69
Strategists have a saying：
〃I dare not be the host；
but would rather be a guest！
I advance not an inch；
but retreat a foot。〃
This is called
Marching out of file；
Bearing nonexistent arms；
Flourishing nonexistent weapons； and
Driving back nonexistent enemies。
There is no greater a misfortune
than not having a worthy foe；
once I believe there are no worthy foes about；
I have well…nigh forfeited all my treasures。
Therefore； when opposing forces are evenly matched；
The one who is saddened by that WINS。
70
My words are easy to understand and very easy to apply。
But no Ego is able to understand them or apply them。
Words have authority。
Affairs have a history！
It is simply because of their ignorance
that Egos do not understand me。
Those who understand me are few； and
thus I am ennobled。
For this reason； Sages may wear homespun cloth over their shoulders；
but they carry a jewel beyond price in their heart。
71
To realize that you do not understand is a virtue；
NOT to realize it is something of a defect。
The reason Sages have no such defects （LEFT！；）
is because they treat defects AS defects。。
and thus they have none left。
72
When the people do not fear what is majestic；
Great Majesty will soon visit them。
Do not limit their dwellings
nor suppress their livelihoods。
Simply because you do not oppress them；
they will not grow tired of you。
For this reason；
Sages are self…aware；
but do not flaunt themselves；
they are self…focused；
but do not glorify themselves。
They out…grow the one and adopt the other。
73
One who is brave in daring will be killed。
One who is brave but not in daring will survive。
One of these two courses is beneficial； the other harmful。
Who knows the reason for Heaven's preferences？
The way of Heaven is to not make war；
yet it is good at conquering；
does not expound；
yet is good at answering；
will not be ordered…about；
yet comes of it's own free will；
is unconcerned；
yet good at making plans。
Heaven's net is vast；
though it's mesh is wide；
NOTHING ESCAPES。
74
If there is someone who doesn't fear death；
why threaten to kill them？
If people did fear death
and one were to capture and kill the devious few；
who would dare to be devious？：
if the people are always at risk of execution；
there will never lack an executioner。
Now； to kill like an executioner is like…
hacking at wood； instead of masterful carpentry；
few are there who can escape cutting their own hands！
75
Human hunger
is the result of governmental profiteering。
Because of THAT； there is hunger。
The common people are not 'governable'
because of their 'superiors' own behavior。
Because of THAT； they are not governable。
The people are 'entertained' by death
because of too much emphasis on preserving their lives。
Because of THAT； death is their 'entertainment。'
Now； only Great Benevolence who acts not for the sake of outer life
is wiser than those who value their own skin very highly。
76
Human beings are
soft and supple when alive；
stiff and straight when dead。
The myriad creatures； grasses and trees are
soft and supple when alive；
dry and withered when dead。
Therefore it is said：
the rigid person is a disciple of death；
the soft； supple and delicate are lovers of life。
The army that is inflexible will not conquer；
the tree that cannot bend will snap！
The unyielding and mighty will be brought low；
the soft； supple and d
