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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 4
Therefore when one is making the Tao one's business,
those who are
also pursuing it, agree, and those who are making the
manifestation of its course their object agree in that; while
even those who are failing in both these things agree where
they fail.
Hence, those with whom one agrees as to the Tao have the happiness
of attaining to it; those with whom one agrees as to its manifestation
have the happiness of attaining to it; and those with whom one agrees
in their failure have also the happiness of attaining (to the Tao).
But when there is not faith sufficient, a want of faith ensues on
the part of the others.
One who stands on his tiptoes does not stand firm; he who stretches
his legs does not walk easily. (So), one who displays himself does
not shine; he who asserts his own views is not distinguished; he
who
vaunts himself does not find his merit acknowledged; he who is self-
conceited has no superiority allowed to him. Such conditions, viewed
from the standpoint of the Tao, are like remnants of food, or a
tumour
on the body, which all dislike. Hence those who pursue (the course)
of the Tao do not adopt and allow them.
There was something undefined and complete, coming into
existence before Heaven and Earth. How still it was and formless,
standing alone, and undergoing no change, reaching everywhere and
in
no danger (of being exhausted)! It may be regarded as the Mother
of
all things.
I do not know its name, and I give it the designation of the Tao
(the Way or Course). Making an effort (further) to give it a name
I
call it The Great.
Great, it passes on (in constant flow). Passing on, it becomes
remote. Having become remote, it returns. Therefore the Tao is
great; Heaven is great; Earth is great; and the (sage) king is also
great. In the universe there are four that are great, and the (sage)
king is one of them.
People take the law from the Earth; the Earth takes its law from
Heaven; Heaven takes its law from the Tao. The law of the Tao is
its
being what it is.
Gravity is the root of lightness; stillness, the ruler of
movement.
Therefore a wise prince, marching the whole day, does not go far
from his baggage waggons. Although he may have brilliant prospects
to
look at, he quietly remains (in his proper place), indifferent to
them. How should the lord of a myriad chariots carry himself lightly
before the kingdom? If one acts lightly, he has lost his root (of
gravity); if he proceed to active movement, he will lose his throne.
The skilful traveller leaves no traces of wheels or
footsteps; the skilful speaker says nothing that can be found fault
with or blamed; the skilful reckoner uses no tallies; the skilful
closer needs no bolts or bars, while to open what he has shut will
be
impossible; the skilful binder uses no strings or knots, while to
unloose what he has bound will be impossible. In the same way the
sage is always skilful at saving men, and so he does not cast away
any
man; he is always skilful at saving things, and so he does not cast
away anything. This is called 'Hiding the light of his procedure.'
Therefore the person of skill is a master (to be looked up to)
by those
who have not the skill; and one who has not the skill is the helper
of
the reputation of one who has the skill. If the one did not honour
the master, and the other did not rejoice in the helper, an
(observer), though intelligent, might greatly err about them. This
is
called 'The utmost degree of mystery.'
Who knows his manhood's strength,
Yet still his female feebleness maintains;
As to one channel flow the many drains,
All come to him, yea, all beneath the sky.
Thus he the constant excellence retains;
The simple child again, free from all stains.
Who knows how white attracts,
Yet always keeps himself within black's shade,
The pattern of humility displayed,
Displayed in view of all beneath the sky;
He in the unchanging excellence arrayed,
Endless return to man's first state has made.
Who knows how glory shines,
Yet loves disgrace, nor e'er for it is pale;
Behold his presence in a spacious vale,
To which men come from all beneath the sky.
The unchanging excellence completes its tale;
The simple infant man in him we hail.
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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