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THE TAO TE CHING,
OR
THE TAO AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS
by Lao Tzu
translated by James Legge
(Edited by Zee Sing*)
Selection 11
The ancients who showed their skill in practising
the Tao did
so, not to enlighten the people, but rather to make them simple
and
ignorant.
The difficulty in governing the people arises from their having
much knowledge. One who tries to govern a state by wisdom is a
scourge to it; while one who does not try to do so is a blessing.
One who knows these two things finds in them also a model and
rule. Ability to know this model and rule constitutes what we call
the mysterious excellence of a governor. Deep and far-reaching is
such mysterious excellence, showing indeed its possessor as opposite
to others, but leading them to a great conformity.
That whereby the rivers and seas are able to receive the homage
and tribute of all the valley streams, is their skill in being lower
than they; it is thus that they are the kings of them all. So it
is
that the sage, wishing to be above people, puts himself by his
words below them, and, wishing to be before them, places his person
behind them.
In this way though he has his place above them, men do not feel
his
weight, nor though he has his place before them, do they feel it
an
injury to them.
Therefore all in the world delight to exalt the sage and are not
weary. Because the sage does not strive, no one finds it possible
to strive in opposition.
All the world says that, while my Tao is great, it yet appears
to be inferior to other systems of teaching. Now it is just its
greatness that makes it seem to be inferior. If it were like any
other system, for long would its smallness have been known!
But I have three precious things which I prize and hold fast. The
first is gentleness; the second is economy; and the third is shrinking
from taking precedence of others.
With that gentleness I can be bold; with that economy I can be
liberal; shrinking from taking precedence of others, I can become
a
vessel of the highest honour. Now-a-days they give up gentleness
and
are all for being bold; economy, and are all for being liberal;
the
hindmost place, and seek only to be foremost; of all which the end
is death.
Gentleness is sure to be victorious even in battle, and firmly
to
maintain its ground. Heaven will save its possessor, through the
protection of being gentle.
Selection 1, 2,
3, 4,
5, 6,
7, 8,
9, 10,
11, 12,
13, 14,
15
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*Because the Legge translation is
rather old, it has been edited slightly to update the language to
a more contemporary standard.
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