Chapter 79. Keeping promise When agreement has been reached after a long dispute, one side always grumbles. And how could this be said a good resolution to an argument? That is why the wise one takes his part of the commitment and does not demand anything else for himself. A just man checks only his… Continue reading Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 79. Keeping promise
Category: In English
Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 14. Praising emptiness
Chapter 14. Praising emptiness Smoothness is what cannot be seen when looking at it. Silence is what cannot be heard when listening to it. Rarity is what cannot be touched when trying to do so. As these are inseparable from each other, they can be considered one – Tao¹. It is not lit in height… Continue reading Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 14. Praising emptiness
Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 8. The inexpensive nature
Chapter 8. The inexpensive nature Greatest virtue is like water. Water is good for everything. It can pass through to even the most unreachable places effortlessly. That is why it is like the Tao. It is virtuous like the heart by being deep. By exposing itself it has the virtue of love. It is virtuous… Continue reading Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 8. The inexpensive nature
Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 6. The origin of beings
Chapter 6. The origin of beings Like the stream of the valley never dries, so the basic essence of the existing never dries. I call it the Mother-depth. The movement of the Mother-depth I call the parturient of the heaven and the earth. Forever it stays, and moves without destination¹. Mr. Ervast: “This reminds us… Continue reading Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 6. The origin of beings
Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 76. The danger of power
Chapter 76. The danger of power When a human is born he is delicate and weak, when dying he is stiff and powerful. The same is with all things. Trees and sprouts in their early growth are soft and flexibile, but when they are dying they are dried up and tough. Their hardness and stiffness… Continue reading Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 76. The danger of power
Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 75. The evil of greed
Chapter 75. The evil of greed The people suffer hunger because those above them set heavy tax burdens on them. This is the cause of their lacking. The people are hard to govern because of the commanding nature of those who are above them. This is the source of confusion. People despise death because enduring… Continue reading Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 75. The evil of greed
Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 74. The mistake of governance
Chapter 74. The mistake of governance 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… Continue reading Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 74. The mistake of governance
Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 73. Freedom of action
Chapter 73. Freedom of action Whose bravery manifests itself in defiance, he will be in the hands of death. Whose bravery shows itself in self control, he stays. Thus there are two kinds of bravery, one is unlucky and the other is beneficial. But who can say why one of them receives the damnation of… Continue reading Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 73. Freedom of action
Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 72. Loving yourself
Chapter 72. Loving yourself When the people don’t have correct fear for the current dangers, they plunge forward into even worse dangers¹. Let them be cautious, that they don’t expand their house tired of the current state of things. If they don’t despise it, no such weariness is born. This is why the wise one,… Continue reading Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 72. Loving yourself
Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 69. Using the highly virtue
Chapter 69. Using the highly virtue A great soldier has said “I don’t dare to be the master but would much rather be guest (i.e. I don’t want to give the call to battle but rather answer it.) I don’t want to advance an inch but would rather retreat a foot.” This is what I… Continue reading Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 69. Using the highly virtue