04道德经英译本85种-第482节

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　　They　do　not　cultivate　the　signs　of　death；　and　so　death　has　no　placeto　enter

　　51

　　Tao　brings　all　the　creatures　of　the　world　to　be　born
　　And　by　following　the　way　they　come　to　fill　their　nature
　　Thus　do　they　follow　the　tao　and　honor　virtue
　　No　one　asks　them　to；？they　do　it　without　thinking

　　It　creates　them　but　doesn't　own　them
　　It　supplies　them　but　doesn't　make　them　dependent
　　It　matures　them　but　doesn't　command　them
　　This　is　the　ideal　of　virtue

　　52

　　What　womb　gave　birth　to　the　world？
　　Know　that　mother　and　you　will　come　to　understand　her　children
　　Embrace　her　and　you　will　never　suffer　harm

　　Block　up　the　holes；　close　the　doors
　　Do　without　doing；　and　you　will　never　labor
　　Open　the　doors；　intrude　yourself　on　the　world
　　Act　with　force；　and　your　troubles　will　not　end

　　See　the　smallest　signs；　bend　at　their　lightest　touch
　　And　let　the　subtlest　rays　lead　you
　　Back　to　the　bright　light

　　53

　　When　you　follow　the　tao；　planning　will　only　lead　you　astray
　　The　way　is　easy　and　straight；　but　people　always　look　for　shortcuts
　　They　leave　weeds　in　the　fields　to　make　sure　the　courtyard　is　clean
　　Empty　their　cupboards　so　that　everyone　can　gorge
　　Carry　a　sword　so　they　can　wear　their　jewels　in　public

　　One　excess　always　leads　to　another
　　This　wanders　far　from　the　way

　　54

　　When　the　foundation　is　laid　well；　and　the　mortar　sound
　　The　house　will　stand　long
　　And　your　descendents　will　honor　your　memory

　　Cultivate　virtue　in　yourself　…　see　yourself　…　so　it　will　be　genuine
　　Cultivate　it　in　your　family　…　see　your　family　…　so　it　will　spread
　　Cultivate　it　in　your　village　…　see　your　village　…　so　it　will　have　roots
　　Cultivate　it　in　your　nation　…　see　your　nation　…　so　it　will　be　abundant
　　Cultivate　it　in　the　world　…　see　the　world　…　so　there　will　be　nothingelse

　　How　do　I　know　the　world　works　this　way？
　　There　is　no　how；　I　listen；　and　I　know

　　55

　　One　who　embraces　virtue　in　its　fullest
　　Is　like　a　newborn　babe
　　She　has　no　fear　of　wasps　and　scorpions；　or　snakes　and　vipers
　　Birds　of　prey　and　fierce　beasts　mean　nothing　to　him
　　Her　bones　and　muscles　are　soft；　but　her　grip　is　firm
　　Because　his　essence　is　at　its　height　he　can　become　aroused
　　Though　he　knows　nothing　of　sex
　　Because　her　harmony　is　at　its　height　she　will　not　become　hoarse
　　Though　she　screams　all　day

　　Harmony　is　the　path　of　wisdom
　　But　you　can't　reach　it　be　getting　more
　　You　can　try　to　breathe　more；　but　what　sense　is　in　that？
　　Eventually　your　breath　will　return　to　what　it　is

　　If　you　look　for　more；　you'll　get　as　much　as　you　can
　　And　after　that　you'll　just　get　old
　　An　easy　way　to　an　early　end

　　56

　　How　can　you　speak　of　things　that　go　beyond　words？
　　The　wise　know　when　not　to　talk

　　They　blocks　up　their　holes
　　Close　their　doors
　　Soften　their　light
　　Settle　their　dust
　　Blunt　their　rough　edges
　　Untie　their　knots

　　This　is　oneness
　　Whoever　achieves　it
　　Can　never　be　known　intimately　but　will　never　be　shunned
　　Can　never　be　benefited　but　will　never　be　harmed

　　57

　　It　has　been　said　of　good　leaders
　　'Peace　is　won　by　doing　the　expected；　war　by　doing　the　unexpected'
　　But　to　lead　by　following　the　way　you　must　let　expectations　go

　　Prohibitions　only　protect　one　by　depriving　another
　　Weapons　only　defend　one　by　assaulting　another
　　No　amount　of　knowledge　will　ever　substitute　for　wisdom
　　No　amount　of　laws　can　ever　replace　honor

　　When　you　lead　by　following　the　way；　remember
　　If　you　do　nothing；　people　will　transform　themselves
　　If　you　remain　quiet；　people　will　have　nothing　to　be　confused　about
　　Don't　play　the　angles；　and　prosperity　will　be　the　norm
　　Don't　impose　your　desires；　and　no　one　will　conform　or　rebel

　　58

　　Government　is　only　sincere　when　it　has　no　end　in　mind
　　Let　it　be　discriminating　and　clear；　and　it　will　be　cunning　and　sly
　　It　uses　disaster　to　create　its　own　good　fortune
　　Uses　good　fortune　to　conceal　the　disasters　it　creates
　　Who　knows　where　this　can　lead？
　　When　nothing　is　constant　anymore
　　The　natural　is　transformed　into　the　deviant
　　The　good　is　twisted　into　the　evil
　　And　the　confusion　will　last　for　generations

　　Bring　order；　but　don't　mold　people　to　fit
　　Be　conscientious；　but　not　stifling
　　Be　direct；　but　not　aggressive
　　Be　bright；　but　only　bright　enough　that　others　can　see　their　own　way

　　59

　　If　you　would　lead　men　and　follow　the　way
　　It's　good　to　be　sparing　in　your　actions
　　For　only　by　being　sparing　can　you　submit　early　to　the　way
　　And　this　is　how　to　accumulate　virtue

　　When　you　accumulate　virtue　in　this　way
　　There　is　no　obstacle　you　can't　overcome
　　Without　obstacles；　no　one　can　predict　your　downfall
　　Thus　you　can　possess　the　state

　　Being　one　with　the　way　of　the　state　like　this
　　Creates　deep　roots　and　a　firm　base
　　And　leads　to　long　life　and　lasting　work

　　60

　　Ruling　a　large　state　is　like　cooking　a　small　fish

　　When　you　govern　using　the　way　power　doesn't　corrupt
　　It's　not　that　power　has　no　power　over　you
　　It's　just　that　it's　only　used　to　give　honor　and　respect　to　everyone
　　Where　honor　and　respect　are　given；　no　one　need　do　violence　to　get　them
　　And　each　is　allowed　to　master　himself

　　61

　　A　great　state　is　like　the　lowest　part　of　a　river
　　All　things　flow　down　to　it；　given　time
　　It　has　the　resources　to　let　myriad　things　grow　in　its　borders
　　And　so　it　is　better　cast　in　the　feminine　principle

　　If　it　rests　quietly；　then　weaker　states　will　come　to　it
　　And　both　will　be　enriched
　　If　it　reaches　out　to　conquer；　then　weaker　states　will　resist
　　And　both　will　be　impoverished

　　The　great　state　desires　diversity　and　prosperity
　　The　weak　state　desires　to　be　great
　　If　both　would　get　what　they　want
　　The　great　state　must　let　itself　be　lower

　　62

　　The　tao　is　that　towards　which　all　things　flow
　　It　honors　the　good　man　and　the　bad　man　alike

　　Praise　can　be　bought　or　sold；　privilege　can　be　given　as　a　gift
　　Even　the　bad　can　acquire　them　this　way；？will　they　be　refused？
　　So　if　you　would　offer　a　gift　to　a　new　leader
　　Though　you　might　shower　him　with　wealth；　or　jewels；　or　adulation
　　You'd　do　better　to　sit　quietly　and　let　him　have　the　tao
　　There　is　a　reason　the　ancients　valued　this　above　all　else
　　'Whether　you　would　attain　something　or　be　absolved
　　You　will　succeed　only　by　following　the　tao'
　　It　can　not　be　given；　only　found
　　Therefore　its　value　is　immeasurable

　　63

　　Do　without　doing；　without　expectations
　　Taste　what　has　no　flavor

　　＇In　Progress＇

　　64

　　What　is　quiet　is　easy　to　contain
　　What　has　not　yet　committed　itself　is　easy　to　divert
　　The　soft　is　easily　melted；　the　small　easily　dispersed

　　The　moral：　Don't　wait　till　problems　mature　before　you　act　on　them

　　The　greatest　chaos　was　once　orderly
　　The　tallest　tree　was　once　a　hidden　seed
　　The　tallest　tower　a　pile　of　dirt
　　The　longest　journey；　but　one　step；　then　another

　　Those　who　act；　ruin；　those　who　cling；　lose
　　Things　always　seem　to　fall　apart　just　at　completion
　　Because　you　think　they're　done；　and　act　carelessly
　　So　the　taoist　never　acts；　never　clings；　never　tries　to　complete
　　He　is　as　aware　at　the　end　as　at　the　beginning

　　Though　she　could　bring　all　things　into　perfect　harmony
　　She　doesn't；　because　she　knows　what's　enough

　　65

　　The　ancient　leaders　who　followed　the　way
　　Were　not　trying　to　enlighten　the　people
　　But　instead　to　give　them　no　cause　to　have　knowledge
　　If　you　use　knowledge　to　rule　you　will　be　accused　of　thievery
　　Of　protecting　one　against　the　interests　of　another
　　And　everyone　will　want　to　know　the　laws　to　protect　themselves
　　Avoid　this；　and　your　actions　will　be　closer　to　the　way

　　If　you　keep　this　always　in　mind　and　practice　it
　　You　will　lead　a　virtuous　state
　　The　effects　of　this　are　subtle　and　far　reaching
　　And　will　always　bring　the　people　back

　　66

　　A　river　makes　a　valley　lush　and　fertile　because　it's　content　to　settleto　the　lowest　place
　　All　things　can　draw　what　they　need　from　it；　without　drowning　in　it
　　To　be　a　leader；　then；　you　must　sink　and　be　still
　　And　let　the　people　gather　around　you
　　You　must　follow　the　contours　of　people's　hearts
　　And　spill　into　their　lives　as　little　as　possible
　　When　you　are　quiet；　the　people　will　not　see　you　as　a　weight　on　theirshoulders
　　When　you　keep　to　your　banks；　the　people　will　not　be　threatened　by　you
　　There　will　be　no　reason　to　build　dykes　or　damns　to　limit　your　power
　　And　the　people　will　delight　in　your　presence

　　67

　　The　whole　world　hears　these　words　and　says　they　are　beautiful；　but　oversimplified
　　But　it's　precisely　because　they're　simple　that　they　can　be　great
　　If　they　tried　to　be　detailed　and　precise；　what　use　would　they　be？

　　There　are　only　three　compasses　to　steer　by；？treasure　them
　　Compassion；　frugality；　and　genuineness
　　C