04道德经英译本85种-第54节
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Therefore a sane man's care is not to exert
One move that can miss； one move that can hurt。
Most people who miss； after almost winning；
Should have 'known the end from the beginning。'
A sane man is sane in knowing what things he can spare；
In not wishing what most people wish；
In not reaching for things that seem rare。
The cultured might call him heathenish；
This man of few words； because his one care
Is not to interfere but to let nature renew
The sense of direction men undo。
65
Sound old rulers； it is said；
Left people to themselves； instead
Of wanting to teach everything
And start the people arguing。
With mere instruction in command；
So that people understand
Less than they know； woe is the land；
But happy the land that is ordered so
That they understand more than they know。
For everyone's good this double key
Locks and unlocks equally。
If modern man would use it； he
Could find old wisdom in his heart
And clear his vision enough to see
From start to finish and finish to start
The circle rounding perfectly。
66
Why are rivers and seas lords of the waters？
Because they afford the common level
And so become lords of the waters。
The common people love a sound man
Because he does not talk above their level；
Because； though he lead them；
He follows them；
He imposes no weight on them；
And they in turn； because he does not impede them；
Yield to him； content：
People never tire of anyone
Who is not bent upon comparison。
67
Everyone says that my way of life is the way of a simpleton。
Being largely the way of a simpleton is what makes it worth while。
If it were not the way of a simpleton
It would long ago have been worthless；
These possessions of a simpleton being the three I
choose
And cherish：
To care；
To be fair；
To be humble。
When a man cares he is unafraid
When he is fair he leaves enough for others；
When he is humble he can grow；
Whereas if； like men of today； he be bold without caring；
Self…indulgent without sharing；
Self…important without shame；
He is dead。
The invincible shield
Of caring
Is a weapon from the sky
Against being dead。
68
The best captain does not plunge headlong
Nor is the best soldier a fellow hot to fight。
The greatest victor wins without a battle：
He who overcomes men understands them。
There is a quality of quietness
Which quickens people by no stress：
'fellowship with heaven；' as of old；
Is fellowship with man and keeps its hold。
69
The handbook of the strategist has said：
'Do not invite the fight； accept it instead；'
'Better a foot behind than an inch too far ahead；'
Which means：
Look a man straight in the face and make no move；
Roll up your sleeve and clench no fist；
Open your hand and show no weapon；
Bare your breast and find no foe。
But as long as there be a foe； value him；
Respect him； measure him； be humble toward him；
Let him not strip from you； however strong he be；
Compassion； the one wealth which can afford him。
70
My way is so simple to feel； so easy to apply；
That only a few will feel it or apply it。
If it were not the lasting way； the natural way to try；
If it were a passing way； everyone would try it。
But however few shall go my way
Or feel concerned with me；
Some there are and those are they
Who witness what they see：
Sanity is a haircloth sheath
With a jewel underneath。
71
A man who knows how little he knows is well；
A man who knows how much he knows is sick。
If； when you see the symptoms； you can tell；
Your cure is quick。
A sound man knows that sickness makes him sick
And before he catches it his cure is quick。
72
Upon those who defy authority
It shall be visited；
But not behind prison walls
Nor through oppression of their kin；
Men sanely led
Are not led by duress。
To know yourself and not show yourself；
To think well of yourself and not tell of yourself；
Be that your no and your yes。
73
A man with outward courage dares to die；
A man with inward courage dares to live；
But either of these men
Has a better and a worse side than the other。
And who can tell exactly to which qualities heaven objects？
Heaven does nothing to win the day；
Says nothing…Is echoed；
Orders nothing…Is obeyed；
Advises nothing…Is right：
And which of us； seeing that nothing is outside the vast
Wide…meshed net of heaven； knows just how it is cast？
74
People starve
If taxes eat their grain；
And the faults of starving people
Are the fault of their rulers。
That is why people rebel。
Men who have to fight for their living
And are not afraid to die for it
Are higher men than those who； stationed high；
Are too fat to dare to die。
75
Death is no threat to people
Who are not afraid to die；
But even if these offenders feared death all day；
Who should be rash enough
To act as executioner？
Nature is executioner。
When man usurps the place；
A carpenter's apprentice takes the place of the master：
And 'an apprentice hacking with the master's axe
May slice his own hand。'
76
Man； born tender and yielding；
Stiffens and hardens in death。
All living growth is pliant；
Until death transfixes it。
Thus men who have hardened are 'kin of death'
And men who stay gentle are 'kin of life。'
Thus a hard…hearted army is doomed to lose。
A tree hard…fleshed is cut down：
Down goes the tough and big；
Up comes the tender sprig。
77
Is not existence
Like a drawn bow？
The ends approach；
The height shortens； the narrowness widens。
True living would take from those with too much
Enough for those with too little；
Whereas man exacts from those with too little
Still more for those with too much。
Now what man shall have wealth enough to share with all men
Save one who can freely draw from the common means？
A sane man needs no better support； no richer reward；
Than this common means；
Through which he is all men's equal。
78
What is more fluid； more yielding than water？
Yet back it comes again； wearing down the rigid strength
Which cannot yield to withstand it。
So it is that the strong are overcome by the weak；
The haughty by the humble。
This we know
But never learn；
So that when wise men tell us；
'He who bites the dust
Is owner of the earth；
He who is scapegoat
Is king；'
They seem to twist the truth。
79
If terms to end a quarrel leave bad feeling；
What good are they？
So a sensible man takes the poor end of the bargain
Without quibbling。
It is sensible to make terms；
Foolish to be a stickler：
Though heaven prefer no man；
A sensible man prefers heaven。
80
If a land is small and its people are few；
With tenfold enough to have and to do；
And if no one has schooled them to waste supply
In the country for which they live and would die；
Then not a boat； not a cart
Tempts this people to depart；
Not a dagger； not a bow
Has to be drawn or bent for show；
People reckon by knots in a cord；
Relish plain food on the board；
Simple clothing suits them well；
And they remain content to dwell
In homes their customs can afford。
Though so close to their own town another town grow
They can hear its dogs bark and its roosters crow；
Yet glad of life in the village they know；
Where else in the world shall they need to go？
81
Real words are not vain；
Vain words not real；
And since those who argue prove nothing
A sensible man does not argue。
A sensible man is wiser than he knows；
While a fool knows more than is wise。
Therefore a sensible man does not devise resources：
The greater his use to others
The greater their use to him；
The more he yields to others
The more they yield to him。
The way of life cleaves without cutting：
Which； without need to say；
Should be man's way。
English_Byrn_TTK
Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse
English interpretation by
Tormond Byrn； 1997
1
The way that can be told of is hardly aneternal； absolute； unvarying one；
the name that can be coded and given is noabsolute name。
Heaven and earth sprang from something else：the bright nameless；
the named is but the said mother that rearsthe ten thousand creatures of heaven and earth； each after its kind。
He that rids himself of base desire can seethe secret essences；
he that didn't and reached high being； hecan see outcomes。
Still the two are the same； the secret andits manifestations came
