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summons not yet draws all near；
bustles not yet meets its purpose。
Heaven casts
a net that's vast；
and though its mesh is far from fine；
nothing is ever left behind。
74
When none fear death；
you cannot threaten them with dying。
When all fear death；
none dare transgress under pain of death。
As long as men fear death；
executioners can make a living。
Only one is positioned to take life。
Who is not a master and tries to hew wood
rarely escapes injuring his hands。
75
Humans hunger
when heavily taxed。
Citizens are unruly
when governors misrule。
People treat death lightly
when nothing's left to live for。
Only one indifferent toward life
is wiser than one ever valuing life。
76
All living plants； each man alive；
live pliant and will yield。
A plant once dead； a man that's died；
are dry and stiff and hard。
Rigid persons side with death。
Yielding persons side with life。
Armies that cannot yield will lose。
Trees that cannot bend will snap。
The strong and rigid all will fail。
The pliant and yielding will prevail。
77
How the Way is like stringing a bow！
The upper end is brought down。
The lower end is lifted。
All excess is reduced。
All deficit is restored。
With all parts in balance； it is fit for use。
In nature； any surplus flows
to those without from those with more。
Men instead reverse the flow
from those without to those with more。
Only one with integrity has abundance
and shares it with the world。
The person of integrity
works； expecting no return；
completes his task； not dwelling on it；
and rests； content unto himself。
78
Nothing in the world
is as weak or yielding as water。
Yet nothing works as well
to triumph over hard and strong。
To the fluid and the yielding；
the hard and strong give way。
Many persons know this
yet none put it to good use。
The wise men said：
〃Who would suffer all insult； let him rule the land。〃
〃Who would shoulder misfortune； let him care for the world。〃
79
To what end compromise；
if resentment still survives？
A wise man thus accepts a debt；
and never claims what's due。
The person of integrity
minds what he owes others；
while one without integrity
minds what's due by others。
Judging is not the Way；
yet justice ever wins the day。
80
Imagine a land； modest in size。
Imagine a people； few in number。
Everyone lives aware of death
and no one thinks to leave。
With all the means to travel far；
no one rides away。
With weapons and armor stored away；
no one is defensive。
Now；
give them rope； they reckon with knots。
Give them simple food； they savor it；
simple clothes； they dress handsomely；
simple dwellings； they feel secure； simple customs； they find delight。
The nearby land in plain view lies？br》 and one can hear their roosters crow！？
still no one ventures forth；
even unto the day they die。
81
Honest words are not pretty。
Pretty words are not honest。
Ones who know are not learned。
Learned ones do not know。
Who has integrity does not cross words。
Who crosses words has not integrity。
The person of integrity
reserves nothing for himself。
The more he does for others；
the fuller his own self。
The more he gives to others；
the richer he becomes。
The Way of heaven is
to give and forgive not。
The Way of wise men is
to tend and contend not。
English_Anonymous_TTK
Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse
Dutch … English by
Anonymous
Vorwort/Foreword
About Lao Tzu and the Tao Te Ching
People assume that the Tao Te Ching dates back to the 6th century before Christ and also that the writer is unknown。 Lao Tzu namely means 揟he Old Sage？and it抯 obvious that it is a collection of wisdom passed on verbally for centuries and written down somewhere in history。 Right there lies the treacherousness of the written word。 For only the elite； the schooled； the learned； the clergy and the rulers mastered script/writing。 They have mastered the Tao Te Ching and changed the contents intentionally； possibly unconsciously； so that it suited their objectives。 What was supposed to be a pearl of clarity； they have consequently made into a complicated and most incomprehensible story to justify their interests； their status and positions。 The bizarre thing is that it is the learned； about whom Lao Tzu says 〃they are not wise〃； who reflect their interpretations of the Tao Te Ching； colored by their follies； and so they make up their minds without understanding the true meaning。 揟raduttore Traditore？ is an old Italian saying； which means that one can only translate a writing correctly by understanding the aim of the writer and therefore one must be committing treason to this moral if he doesn抰。 That is to say； everybody who translates a script； translates it through his own point of view and so adds something to the writing which he thinks the writer must have meant。 And because everybody抯 view is colored by his or her interests； prejudices and convictions； there are as many possible translations and interpretations as there are people； and none of those translations are able to reflect what Lao Tzu really meant。 It抯 obvious that no scientist dares to read therein that he is a fool himself； no leader； that he is an upgraded ignoramus； and no philosopher that he is telling but nonsense/bullshit。
What did Lao Tzu mean to convey in the Tao Te Ching？
In essence Lao Tzu is a ringer。 He is someone who first asked himself what he was really doing。 He turned himself away from the world and as an outsider he suddenly saw that all his fellow men are occupied by their daydreams。 Caught up in their own head…trips they follow leaders； which don抰 know as well as they themselves do； stuck in many silly traditions and habits； talking about nothing； ruled by fear； not knowing who they are； anxious about everything and nothing。 They are slaughtering each other； attached to their possessions； locked up in their houses； villages； cities； states； involved in labor and day…to…day routines； and last but not least； they accept all this。 He incites them to free themselves from those chains； to stop the nonsense with which they weary themselves； not to trust flattery from others anymore； not to follow their leaders anymore and to just enjoy life。 Men； dare to live！
What抯 the weak spot in the Tao Te Ching？
The Tao Te Ching continues as an unfortunate mixture of wisdom sayings and inadequate descriptions about experiencing reality and the way Creation comes to expression； in other words； about the creating process。 And that抯 exactly what cannot be said in words； and every attempt at it ends in mystical abracadabra。 Wittgenstein writes about this in his Tractatus Logico…philosophicus： 揥hereof one cannot speak； th