T
Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) by Laozi, trans. James Legge
Part 1
The Book of Dé
The second part of the Dàodéjīng, the Book of Dé (although also still dealing with the Way) discusses one's character or virtuosity. Much like the Italian word virtù with which Machiavelli defines his ideal Prince, dé is a broad word that is hard to pin down. We can… Read more
Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) by Laozi, trans. James Legge
Chapter 45
Chapter 47
Chapter 46
1
When the Tao prevails in the world, they send back their swift horses to (draw) the dung-carts. When the Tao is disregarded in the world, the war-horses breed in the border lands.
2
There is no guilt greater than to sanction ambition; no calamity… Read more
Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) by Laozi, trans. James Legge
Chapter 44
Chapter 46
Chapter 45
1
Who thinks his great achievements poor
Shall find his vigour long endure.
Of greatest fulness, deemed a void,
Exhaustion ne'er shall stem the tide.
Do thou what's straight still crooked deem;
Thy greatest art still stupid seem,
And eloquence a… Read more
Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) by Laozi, trans. James Legge
Chapter 43
Chapter 45
Chapter 44
1
Or fame or life,
Which do you hold more dear?
Or life or wealth,
To which would you adhere?
Keep life and lose those other things;
Keep them and lose your life:--which brings
Sorrow and pain more near?
2
Thus we may see,
Who cleaves to fame
Rejects… Read more
Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) by Laozi, trans. James Legge
Chapter 42
Chapter 44
Chapter 43
1
The softest thing in the world dashes against and overcomes the hardest; that which has no (substantial) existence enters where there is no crevice. I know hereby what advantage belongs to doing nothing (with a purpose).
2
There are few in the world… Read more
Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) by Laozi, trans. James Legge
Chapter 41
Chapter 43
Chapter 42
1
The Tao produced One; One produced Two; Two produced Three; Three produced All things. All things leave behind them the Obscurity (out of which they have come), and go forward to embrace the Brightness (into which they have emerged), while they are… Read more
Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) by Laozi, trans. James Legge
Chapter 80
Chapter 81
1
Sincere words are not fine; fine words are not sincere. Those who are skilled (in the Tao) do not dispute (about it); the disputatious are not skilled in it. Those who know (the Tao) are not extensively learned; the extensively learned do not know it.
2
The sage… Read more
Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) by Laozi, trans. James Legge
Chapter 79
Chapter 81
Chapter 80
1
In a little state with a small population, I would so order it, that, though there were individuals with the abilities of ten or a hundred men, there should be no employment of them; I would make the people, while looking on death as a grievous thing,… Read more
Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) by Laozi, trans. James Legge
Chapter 78
Chapter 80
Chapter 79
1
When a reconciliation is effected (between two parties) after a great animosity, there is sure to be a grudge remaining (in the mind of the one who was wrong). And how can this be beneficial (to the other)?
2
Therefore (to guard against this), the… Read more
Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) by Laozi, trans. James Legge
Chapter 77
Chapter 79
Chapter 78
1
There is nothing in the world more soft and weak than water, and yet for attacking things that are firm and strong there is nothing that can take precedence of it;--for there is nothing (so effectual) for which it can be changed.
2
Every one in the… Read more
Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) by Laozi, trans. James Legge
Chapter 40
Chapter 42
Chapter 41
1
Scholars of the highest class, when they hear about the Tao, earnestly carry it into practice. Scholars of the middle class, when they have heard about it, seem now to keep it and now to lose it. Scholars of the lowest class, when they have heard about… Read more
Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) by Laozi, trans. James Legge
Chapter 75
Chapter 77
Chapter 76
1
Man at his birth is supple and weak; at his death, firm and strong. (So it is with) all things. Trees and plants, in their early growth, are soft and brittle; at their death, dry and withered.
2
Thus it is that firmness and strength are the… Read more
Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) by Laozi, trans. James Legge
Chapter 74
Chapter 76
Chapter 75
1
The people suffer from famine because of the multitude of taxes consumed by their superiors. It is through this that they suffer famine.
2
The people are difficult to govern because of the (excessive) agency of their superiors (in governing them). It… Read more
Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) by Laozi, trans. James Legge
Chapter 73
Chapter 75
Chapter 74
1
The people do not fear death; to what purpose is it to (try to) frighten them with death? If the people were always in awe of death, and I could always seize those who do wrong, and put them to death, who would dare to do wrong?
2
There is always One… Read more
Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) by Laozi, trans. James Legge
Chapter 72
Chapter 74
Chapter 73
1
He whose boldness appears in his daring (to do wrong, in defiance of the laws) is put to death; he whose boldness appears in his not daring (to do so) lives on. Of these two cases the one appears to be advantageous, and the other to be injurious. But… Read more
Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) by Laozi, trans. James Legge
Chapter 71
Chapter 73
Chapter 72
1
When the people do not fear what they ought to fear, that which is their great dread will come on them.
2
Let them not thoughtlessly indulge themselves in their ordinary life; let them not act as if weary of what that life depends on.
3
It is by… Read more
Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) by Laozi, trans. James Legge
Chapter 70
Chapter 72
Chapter 71
1
To know and yet (think) we do not know is the highest (attainment); not to know (and yet think) we do know is a disease.
2
It is simply by being pained at (the thought of) having this disease that we are preserved from it. The sage has not the… Read more
Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) by Laozi, trans. James Legge
Chapter 69
Chapter 71
Chapter 70
1
My words are very easy to know, and very easy to practise; but there is no one in the world who is able to know and able to practise them.
2
There is an originating and all-comprehending (principle) in my words, and an authoritative law for the… Read more
Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) by Laozi, trans. James Legge
Chapter 68
Chapter 70
Chapter 69
1
A master of the art of war has said, 'I do not dare to be the host (to commence the war); I prefer to be the guest (to act on the defensive). I do not dare to advance an inch; I prefer to retire a foot.' This is called marshalling the ranks where there… Read more
Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) by Laozi, trans. James Legge
Chapter 66
Chapter 68
Chapter 68
1
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… Read more
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