Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 36. Concealed consent

Chapter 36. Concealed consent

When nature intends to remove something it surely first grows it.

Supposedly a drop of water exiting water on after rebound movement but looks like a simulation
CC-BY-SA 3.0 by uploader Avatar. Originally from defunct site camera-colonia.de.

When it intends to weaken it first strengthens.

When it intends to demote it surely promotes.

When it intends to deprive it surely first adds.

This is what I call the concealed consent.

The silent and the weak triumphs over the hard and strong.¹

Like a fish out of water so is the state at danger when its armaments are revealed to the people.


  1. Mr. Ervast: “Like love over hatred and selfishness.”

Own translation from 1925 Finnish translation by Pekka Ervast (ISBN 951-8995-01-X) with kind permission of Ruusu-Ristin Kirjallisuusseura ry.

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