Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 74. The mistake of governance

Chapter 74. The mistake of governance

Image of an ancient statue of a woman holding weighing scales.
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When the people don’t fear death, what use is punishment to scare them?

And if they were always kept in the fear of death and I would take to all evil-doers and kill them, would I dare to do it?

The great Executioner is always waiting.

If someone steals his job, he is like a beginner that steps into the building site of the master builder.

Such people rarely do not chop off their own hands.

 


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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