04道德经英译本85种-第192章
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72
When men do not have a right fear of present dangers; they run into extremes of peril。
Let them beware of enlarging the house; being wary of present conditions。
If they do not despise it; no such weariness will arise。
This is why the Sage; while possessed of self…knowledge; does not parade himself。
He loves; but does not value himself highly。
Thus he can put away pride; and is content。
73
He whose courage is expressed in daring will soon meet death。
He whose courage is shown in self…restraint will be preserved。
There are; then; two kinds of courage; the one is injurious and the other of advantage。
But who is to say why one of them should incur the judgement of Heaven?
That is why the Sage finds it difficult to act。
The celestial Tao does not strive; and yet overcomes everything。
It does not speak; yet is skilful in replying。
It does not call; yet things come to it readily。
It is quiet in its methods; yet its plans are thoroughly effective。
The net of Heaven has large meshes; and yet nothing escapes it!
74
When the people do not fear death; of what use is it to overawe them with it as a penalty?
And if they were always held in fear of death; and I could lay my hand upon all evil doers and slay them; would I dare to do it?
There is always the Great Executioner!
For one to usurp that office is like a novice cutting out the work of a great architect。
Such a one rarely fails to cut his own hands!
75
The people suffer from famine on account of the heavy taxation put upon them。
This is the cause of their need。
The people are difficult to govern because of the overbearing of their superiors。
This is the cause of their trouble。
The people make light of dying because of the great hardships of trying to live。
This is the reason for their indifference to death。
Therefore to keep living in obscurity is better than making overmuch of it。
76
Man at his birth is supple and tender; but in death he is rigid and strong。
It is the same with everything。
Trees and plants in their early growth are pliant and soft; but at the end they are withered and tough。
Thus rigidity and strength are concomitants of death; but softness and gentleness are companions of life。
Therefore the warrior who relies on his strength cannot conquer death; while the powerful tree becomes a mere timber support。
For the place of the strong and the firm is below; while that of the gentle and yielding is above。
77
Like the bending of an archer's bow is the Tao of Heaven!
It brings down that which is high; and raises up that which is depressed。
It takes away where there is excess; and gives where there is deficiency。
The Tao of Heaven makes all things equal。
This Tao is not of man。
Man takes from the needy to add to his own excess。
Who is he that; having a superabundance; can bring it to the service of the world?
Only he who has the Tao。
This is why the wise man acts without expectation of reward; and completes his task without claiming merit。
For thus he hides his wealth。
78
Nothing on earth is so weak and yielding as water; but for breaking down the firm and strong it has no equal。
This admits of no alternative。
All the world knows that the soft can wear away the hard; and the weak can conquer the strong; but none can carry it out in practice。
Therefore the Sage says: He who bears the reproach of his country is really the lord of the land。 He who bears the woes of the people is in truth their king。
The words of truth are always paradoxical。
79
When a compromise is effected after a long dispute; one of the parties retains a grudge: how can this be called a good settlement?
Therefore the wise man takes his part of the bond; and does not insist upon having the other。
The virtuous man attends only to his engagements in the bond; while the man without virtue contrives for his own advantage。
The Tao of Heaven has no favourites; it always aids the good man。
80
If I had a small kingdom and but ten or a hundred men of ability; I would not administrate with them。
I would teach the people to look upon death as a grievous thing; and then they would not go abroad to meet it。
Though they had boats and carriages; yet they would not go away in them。
Though they had armour; yet they would never have occasion to wear it。
The people would return to the use of the quipu。
They should find their coarse food sweet; think their plain clothes grand; regard their homes as places of rest; and take delight in their own simple pleasures。
Though the neighbouring state could be seen by us; and the crowing of the cocks and the barking of the dogs could be heard;
Yet my people would grow old; and die before ever feeling the need of having intercourse with it。
81
Sincere words are not grand。
Grand words are not faithful。
The man of Tao does not dispute。
Those who know it are not learned。
The learned do not know it。
The wise man does not lay up treasure。
The more he expends on others; the more he gains for himself。
The more he gives to others; the more he has for his own。
This is the Tao of Heaven; which penetrates but does not injure。
This is the Tao of the wise man; who acts but does not strive。
English_Hansen_TTK
Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse
Chinese … English by
Chad Hansen
1
To Guide with Names
To guide what can be guided is not constant guiding。
To name what can be named is not constant naming。
'Not…exist' names the beginning (boundary) of the cosmos (Heaven andearth)
'Exists' names the mother of the ten…thousand natural kinds 。
Thus; to treat 'not…exist' as constant is desiring to use it to viewits mysteries。
To treat 'exists' as constant is desiring to use it to view its manifestations。
These two emerge together yet have different names。
'Together'call that 'obscure。' 'Obscure' it and it is more obscure。
。 。 。 the gateway of a crowd of mysteries。
2
Contrast of Terms
That the social world knows to deem the beautiful as 'beautiful' simplycreates the 'ugly。 '
That the social world knows to deem worth as 'worthy' simply creates'worthlessness。 '
Thus 'exists' and 'not…exists' mutually sprout。 'Difficult' and 'easy'are mutually done。
'Long' and 'short' are mutually gauged。 'High' and 'low' mutually incline。
'Sound' and 'tone' mutually blend。 'Before' and 'after' mutually supervene。
(Pro…sage Commentary:)
Using this: sages fix social issues without deeming ; administer a'no words' teaching。
The ten…thousand natural kinds work by it and don't make phrases。
They sprout but don't 'exist'。
Deem…act and don't rely on anything。
Accomplish their work and don't dwell in it。
Because they don't dwell in it; they don't lose it。
3
Prescriptions for Politics
Don't glorify the high…brow: cause people not to wrangle。
Don't value limited commodities: cause people not to contemplate stealing。
Don't display the desirable: prevent confusing the people's hearts…'n…minds。
Using these: The governance of sages: empties their hearts…'n…minds;stuffs their guts
Weakens their resolve; and strengthens their bones。
He treats causing the people to lack both knowledge and desire as constants。
Causing those with knowledge not to venture deeming…actions。
They deem the absence of deeming…action and thus nothing is ungoverned。
4
Using Guidance
Guidance pours out but in using it; something is not filled。
Whew! It's like the ancestor of the ten…thousand natural kinds。
'Dull' its 'sharp'; 'untie' its 'tie'; 'blend' its 'bright'; 'together'its 'diffused particles'。
Ooo! It's like it partly endures。
I don't know whose son it is。
It is before the emperor of signs!
5
Natural Guidance
Heaven…earth 'the cosmos' is not kind。 It tr