04道德经英译本85种-第7节
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yet what he binds； no one can undo。
Who follows the Way well
leaves none untended；
leaves none behind；
leaves naught to waste。
Such is listening to the light within。
Good men are to bad men teachers。
Bad men are to good men responsibilities。
Who does not respect his teacher？br》 or his responsibility？br》 whatever else he knows；
wants wisdom。
Such is the subtle essence。
28
Knowing the masculine；
embrace the feminine。
Be a channel for all under heaven：
integrity will ever flow through you
and return you to the state of a newborn。
Knowing honor；
embrace humility。
Be a valley for all under heaven：
integrity will ever flow towards you
and return you to an unhewn block。
Knowing whiteness；
embrace the dark void。
Be a guide for all under heaven：
integrity will never mislead you
and will return you to the everlasting。
When hewn；
the native block is fashioned into tools；
tools which serve the interests of the few。
A wise man knows how not to hew。
29
Some men try to seize the world
and shape it as they please；
but how can they succeed？
The world is a vessel complete unto itself。
Who tries to shape it； fails。
Who tries to grasp it； loses。
Some creatures plunge ahead； some pause behind。
Some breathe in fits； some breathe more gently。
Some resist； some yield to danger。
Some fill themselves； some become empty and hollow。
A person of integrity endeavors ever to be free：
free of extremes；
free of excess；
free of extraordinary extravagance。
30
Who serves a ruler with the Way
refrains from force of arms。
For who wields weapons； weapons can betray。
Where troops have camped； the brambles grow。
Where war has raged； the harvest's low。
Who leads an army well resolves his purpose；
absent force； absent reward。
He meets the purpose； not to boast of power。
He meets the purpose； not to bask in fortune。
He meets the purpose； not to brag with glory。
Rather； he meets the purpose with full regret
because the purpose must be met。
All things flourish； then decay。
One cannot ever force the Way。
What goes against it soon dies away。
31
Weapons bode not well。
All creatures under heaven fear them。
Who follows the Way honors them not；
and adopts them only at the last。
Who prizes peace will not prettify a weapon。
Who prettifies a weapon finds delight in slaughter。
Who finds delight in slaughter is not fit
to steward creatures under heaven。
How should a commander in war position himself？
梂here he can see the sadness； not the triumph。
When many people die； one weeps in sorrow。
To mark a victory； mourn what is lost。
32
The Way is ever nameless；
a modest the unhewn block。
Yet none dare not respect it。
If one instilled its simpleness；
all things in nature would acquiesce。
Heaven and earth would reunite。
A gentle dew would fall。
Peace and order； unenforced；
among the people would reign。
When once the block is hewn；
things multiply and names ensue。
Knowing when to end
frees one from peril。
All under heaven is received into the Way；
like valley streams cascading to the sea。
33
Who understand others has knowledge。
Who understands himself is enlightened。
Who overcomes others has power。
Who overcomes himself has strength。
Who values just what suffices is rich。
Who perseveres has strength of purpose。
Who finds where he belongs； endures。
Who leaves memories when he dies； lives on。
34
How great the Way；
like a flooding river flowing left and right！
Holding nothing back； it gives to all in need
and makes no claim upon them。
All creatures return to it； yet it rules none：
how small it seems。
It rules none； yet all creatures return to it：
how great it seems。
By never seeking greatness；
greatness comes。
35
Cultivate the void。
Hold fast to the center。
All creatures will pass your way；
for in stillness no harm dwells。
Voyagers pass by way of music and fine food。
To them how bland the Way will seem。
Looking； you cannot see it。
Listening； you cannot hear it。
Yet when summoned； it ever flows freely。
36
What one would reduce
first stretch to its limit。
What one would weaken；
first consolidate。
What one would cast down；
first elevate。
What one would seize；
first forsake。
Such is subtle insight。
To the flexible and yielding
the hard and strong give way。
No more than a fish out of water
should one see a ruler's hand at work。
37
The Way is ever nameless。
When leaders of the land respect it；
all creatures of themselves transcend。
If yet intent should well；
invoke the nameless unhewn block。
Nameless； all will be free of want。
Ever simple； all will be filled with wonder。
Whereupon； all will be well with the world。
38
Integrity never concerns those who express it；
while obsessing those who want to possess it。
With integrity one has no motive and does not act；
and nothing's left undone。
With humanism； no motive still； and though one acts；
nothing is disturbed。
With justice one has a motive and also acts；
and much is left undone。
With rectitude one acts； and when no one responds；
he rolls his sleeves and coerces them。
When the Way is lost；
it yields to integrity； integrity to humanism；
humanism to justice； and justice to propriety。
So do trust and order wane；
reduced to florid protocol；
wherein nonsense blooms。
Greatness dwells in substance； not in surfaces；
in the fruit and not the flower；
in releasing what is without for what is within。
39
Long ago； many attained oneness。
Heaven became pure。
Earth became firm。
Spirits became endowed。
Waterways became full。
Men became guides。
Now
without clarity； heaven would collapse。
Without firmness； earth would burst。
Without power； spirits would wane。
Without fullness； valleys would run dry。
Without guidance； communities would dissolve。
Greatness springs from a humble font。
Towers spring from modest foundations。
Thus true leaders profess their lowly roots
and postures to serve。
Too much renown will lead to ruin。
Thus glisten not like polished jade。
Be solid like unhewn rock。
40
The Way moves unpredictably
acting with each opportunity。
All creatures are of being born；
while being is of non…being born。
41
A wise man； once he hears the Way；
begins to practice right away。
A common man who hears the Way；
will heed it some； not every day。
A fool who hears just laughs out loud；
by which one knows the Way's endowed。
To quote old sayings：
〃The path to enlightenment seems dim。〃
〃The way ahead seems like regress。〃
〃Easy solutions seem hard to find。〃
〃Utmost virtue feels incomplete。〃
〃Abundant virtue feels unrewarding。〃
〃The backbone of virtue feels limp。〃
〃Plain truths go unappreciated。〃
〃Great talents go unrecognized。〃
〃The perfect form has no shape。〃
〃The perfect square has no corner。〃
〃The perfect music has no sound。〃
The Way is hidden and without name；
yet brings fulfillment just the same。
42
From the Way came one；
from one came two；
from two； a few；
and then a sum；
until a myriad had come。
All these creatures；
with yin on their backs and yang in their breasts；
live by harmonizing their vital breaths。
A commoner is loathe to admit；
while leaders openly submit；
their humble roots or low repute。
One may gain by loss；
and lose by gain。
〃Who lives by the sword； dies by the sword。〃
And 〃as you live； so shall you die。〃
What experience confirms；
I will wisely reaffirm。
43
Water； ever fluid；
erodes the most resistant rock。
While what is insubstantial
penetrates the densest block。
Without ado；
non…action demonstrates what it can do。
Wisdom without words；
deeds without doing
are realized by very few。
44
Fame or no…name；
which means more？
Self or wealth？；
the choice is yours。
With or without；
think either…or。
Pursuing pleasures will meet great cost。
Amassing treasures will meet great loss。
To know good measure frees a man from shame。
To act in good measure frees a man from claim；
and so he endures。
45
Great perfection seems to need repair
and yet its usefulness is not impaired。
Great fullness seems like empty air
and yet its usefulness is everywhere。
Great directedness may seem wayward。
Great
