Category: translation

Chapter 63. Looking ahead To act without plan, to labor without pretense, finding great in what is small, and plentyfullness in scarcicity , by revenging evil with goodness, difficult things when they are easy, and by guiding great things when they are at their beginning – that is of the way of the Tao. The… Continue reading Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 63. Looking ahead

Chapter 61. Virtue of humbleness A kingdom, like a stream, becomes great by being lowly. It becomes the center, where all the world aims for. Similarly is with woman: She wins the man by constant calmness. And calmness is the same  as durability. That is why a great state by lowering itself to those who… Continue reading Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 61. Virtue of humbleness

Chapter 60. Filling the throne States should be governed like we boil small fish, without much ado. When Tao is brought to guide the nation, it gives rest to the shadows of the dead¹. Not like that the spirits would become idle but they stop menacing the people. But – what is more important –… Continue reading Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 60. Filling the throne

Chapter 59. Protecting Tao In governing people and serving heaven there is nothing like reasonableness. Through reasonableness the human arrives in his first state¹. When this state has been reached, the human owns unlimited amount of virtue. With this kind of virtue he can conquer all. And there is no end to this championing. That… Continue reading Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 59. Protecting Tao

Chapter 58. To allow others to heal themselves Free and gentle government gives the people the possibility of development of itself. When the government is stiff and demanding, the people are withered and wretched. Misery is only the shadow of existence. Happiness is only the curtain of misery. When will these end? If we give… Continue reading Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 58. To allow others to heal themselves

Chapter 77. The Heavenly Tao Like arching of the bow is the heavenly Tao. It brings down all that is high and lifts up that which is lowly. It reduces where excess is and adds where there is lack. The heavenly Tao makes all beings equal. This Tao is not of the human. Human takes… Continue reading Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 77. The Heavenly Tao

Chapter 57. Right government May the just lead the kingdom. May the cunning lead the army. But may he who efficiently acts by non-action be king.¹ How do I know this to be so? I know via this: When peoples actions are guided by restricting laws the country grows even poorer. When people are allowed… Continue reading Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 57. Right government

Chapter 56. Wondrous virtue He who knows the Tao does not argue about it, and those who telltale of it do not know it.¹ To hold lips closed, to shut the doors of vision and hearing, to smoothen sharp corners, lessen the glare of bright light and to be on the same level as the… Continue reading Translation: Tao Te King – Chapter 56. Wondrous virtue

Chapter 55. Marvelous harmony The man, who is filled by the Tao, is like a small child.¹ Poisonous animals will not sting him; wild beasts will not attack him and birds of pray do not strike their claws into him.² His young bones are not hard and his tendons not strong, but his grip is… Continue reading Translation: Tao Te King -Chapter 55. Marvelous harmony