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第403章

04道德经英译本85种-第403章

小说: 04道德经英译本85种 字数: 每页4000字

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  That is why they thought it the most precious of all things。

  63

  He who acts by non…actiuon;
  Who does; but does not undertake;
  Who finds savour in the tasteless …
  Will see the great in the litle; the many in the few。
  〃He will repay injuries with kindness;
  He will deal with hard things while they are still easy;
  And tackle great things while they are still small。〃
  All difficulties on earth and easy in their beginnings;
  All great things start by being small。
  Therefore the Sage:
  Because he does not turn his attention to the great;
  Achieves greatness。
  Ready promises inspire little confidence;
  He who takes things too lightly encounters many difficulties。
  Therefore the Sage:
  Because he recognizes what is difficult;
  Never has any difficulties。

  64

  That which is motionless can be easily held;
  That which has not been forecast can be easily planned;
  Hat which is still tender can be easily broken;
  That which is minute can be easily scattered。
  Take things in hand before they come into existence;
  Put things in order before they are in a state of confusion。
  The tree which fills your arms' embrace brew from a tine shoot;
  The nine…storey tower arose from a heap of earth。
  The journey of a thousand miles began with the spot of earth covered by one's own feet。
  He who acts; spoils。 He who grasps; loses。
  The Sage does ot act: therefore he does not spoil things。
  He does no grasp; therefore he does not lose things。
  But ordinary people; eagerly going about their business;
  Often fail when the are on the verge of succeeding。
  Keep watch on the end as well as on the beginning;
  Then you will not fail。
  Therefore the Sage:
  Desires only the undesiring;
  He does not value things that are hard to come by。
  He learns how not to learn;
  Turning back to those things which others have passed through;
  And thus helps all creatures to fulfil their own natures。
  But he does not venture to act。

  65

  In olden times those who were most practiced in the Tao did not use their knowledge to instruct the people; they
  used it rather to keep them simple。
  It is when they are overstocked with learning that the people are hard to govern。
  To govern by adding to the people's store of learning is to prey on the country;
  To govern by decreasing the people's store of learning is to be a blessing to the country。
  He who is familiar with these two methods will not want for a touchstone。
  Always bearing this in mind; he will be able to draw on the Mysterious Power;
  This power is infinitely deep and far…reaching; and; unlike all things else; goes back and back;
  Until it atains to complete Unity。

  66

  Oceans and mighty rivers are as kings to all the valleys; because they lower themselves to thelevel of the valleys:
  That is why they are as kings of the valeys。
  Therefore the Sage; if he would be above the people; must in speech seem to put himself below the people。
  IF he would lead the people; he must place himself behind them。
  Thus: although he is above the people; he is not a burden to them;
  Although he goes ahead of the people; he does not block their way。
  Thus: the whole world willingly follows and esteems him and is not irked by him。
  And because he does not contend; no one contends with him。

  67

  All the world declares that the Tao of which we speak may be supreme; but nevertheless it baffles definition。
  Indeed; it is because it is supreme that it baffles definition。
  If it had been definable it would have long since become as negligible as the conventions。
  These are my three treasures; which I prize and protect:
  The first is compassion; the second is moderation; the third is; not to attempt to be the first among men。
  If you are compassionate; you can be truly brave;
  If you are moderate; you can be truly generous;
  If you do not attempt to be the first among men; you can become the chief of ministers。
  But nowadays; if you are brave it is at the expense of compassion;
  If you are generous; it is at the expense of moderation;
  If you lead; it is at the expense of humility;
  And this is death。
  For he who fights with compassion will conquer;
  He who defends with compassion will hold fast;
  Heaven will save him and protect him with compassion。

  68

  The captain who is most accomplished does not make a display of warlike zeal;
  The best fighter is not angry;
  He who is most capable of conquering does not engage the enemy;
  He who is most capable of using men places himself in a position inferior to them。
  This may be called the Virtue of Non…striving;
  The power to use men;
  It is to work in consort with heaven itself;
  And attain the highest ideal of the Ancients。

  69

  A great strategist has said: 〃I will not issue a challenge; but being challenged will give a good account of myself。
  Rather than advance an unnecessary inch I will retire a foot。〃
  This might be called:
  Marching by standing still;
  Baring the arms; but not raising them to fight;
  Keeping the hand on the hilt of the unsheathed sword;
  Being prepared for battle; but not engaging the enemy。
  No calamity could be greater than that which results from underestimating the enemy。
  To underestimate the enemy is to risk the loss of one's greatest treasure … life itself。
  Thus it is that when enemies meet in battle; the side that deplores the conflict will most surely be victorious。

  70

  My words are very easy to grasp and very easy to carry out;
  Yet few om earth understand them; and few carry them out。
  Nevertheless; my words have an ancestor;
  My actions have a master。
  And because they; my words' ancestors and my actions' master; are not understood; nor shall I be understood。
  Those who understand me are but few;
  But their fewness does not lessen my worth。
  For the Sage goes clothed in coarse and simple garments;
  But he wears a jewel hidden in his bosom。

  71

  To know that one does not know is the better part。
  Not to recognize true knowledge is an illness。
  Only by knowing this illness to be illness does not cease to be ill。
  The Sage is free from this illness;
  For having recognized his illness and illness;
  He is no longer ill。

  72

  If people are not awestruck by that authority which rightly claims their awe;
  Be sure a greater fear; the fear of death; will not let them escape。
  But do not confine them within narrow walls;
  Not interfere with their lot;
  If you refrain from despising htem; you will not be despised by them。
  Thus it is with the Sage:
  He knows himselfr; yet makes no parade of himself。
  He loves himself; yet does not overrate himself。
  Indeed; he disregards That and nurtures This。

  73

  He whose courage is shown in rashly daring will be killed;
  He whose courage is shown in not rashly daring will live。
  Of these two either may be harmful; either may be beneficial;
  And who shall say which of them is hated by Heaven?
  (Even the Sage sees a difficulty here。)
  The Tao of Heaven does not contend; yet knows the way to win;
  It does not speak; yet knows how to get the right answer;
  It does not beckon; yet all things come to it freely;
  In stillness and without haste; it carries out its well…laid plans。
  The net of Heaven is vast; but though its mesh is wide;
  Nothing escapes。

  74

  If the people do not stand in awe of death;
  What is the point of threatening them with the death penalty?
  But even suppose the people were in constant fear of death;
  Who would dare to seize the evil…doers and slaughter them?
  Leave killing to the Great Slayer。
  He who usurps the place of the Great Slayer
  Is like one who seeks to assist a master joiner with an axe。
  Now he who assists a master joiner with an axe
  Rarely fails to injure his own hands。

  75

  If 

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