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o would inflict death in the room of him who so presides over it maybe described as hewing wood instead of a great carpenter。 Seldom is itthat who undertakes the hewing； instead of the great carpenter； does notcut his own hands！？br》
75
The people suffer from famine because of the multitude of taxes consumedby their superiors。 It is through this that they suffer famine。 The peopleare difficult to govern because of the （excessive） agency of their superiors（in governing them）。 It is through this that they are difficult to govern。The people make light of dying because of the greatness of their laboursin seeking for the means of living。 It is this which makes them think lightof dying。 Thus it is that to leave the subject of living altogether outof view is better that to set a high value on it。？br》
76
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； aresoft and brittle； at their death； dry and withered。 Thus it is that firmnessand strength are the concomitants of death； softness and weakness； theconcomitants of life。 Hence he who （relies on） the strength of his forcesdoes not conquer； and a tree which is strong will fill the outstretchedarms； （and thereby invites the feller。） Therefore the place of what isfirm and strong is below； and that of what is soft and weak is above。
77
May not the Way （or Tao） of Heaven be compared to the （method of） bendinga bow？ The （part of the bow） which was high is brought low； and what waslow is raised up。 （So Heaven） diminishes where there is superabundance；and supplements where there is deficiency。 It is the Way of Heaven to diminishsuperabundance； and supplements where there is deficiency。 It is the Wayof Heaven to diminish superabundance； and to supplement deficiency。 Itis not so with the way of man。 He takes away from those who have not enoughto add to his own superabundance。 Who can take his own superabundance andtherewith serve all under heaven？ Only he who is in possession of the Tao！Therefore the （ruling） sage acts without claiming the results as his； heachieves his merit and does not rest （arrogantly） in it：…he does not wishto display his superiority。？br》
78
There is nothing in the world more soft and weak than water； and yetfor attacking things that are firm and strong there is nothing that cantake precedence of it；…for there is nothing （so effectual） for which itcan be changed。 Every one in the world knows that the soft overcomes thehard； and the weak the strong； but no one is able to carry it out in practice。Therefore a sage has said
'He who accepts his state's reproach； Is altars' lord； To him who bearsmen's direful woes They all the name of King accord。'
Words that are strictly true seem to be paradoxical。？br》
79
When a reconciliation is effected （between two parties） after a greatanimosity； there is sure to be a grudge remaining （in the mind of the onewho was wrong）。 And how can this be beneficial （to the other）？ Therefore（to guard against this）； the sage keeps the left…hand portion of the recordof the engagement； and does not insist on the （speedy） fulfillment of itby the other party。 （So）； he who has the attributes （of the Tao） regards（only） the conditions of the engagement； while he who has not those attributesregards only the conditions favourable to himself。 In the Way of Heaven；there is no partiality of love； it is always on the side of the good man。？br》
80
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 would be no employment of them； I would make the people； while lookingon death as a grievous thing； yet not remove elsewhere （to avoid it）。 Thoughthey had boats and carriages； they should have no occasion to ride in them；though they had buff coats and sharp weapons； they should have no occasionto don or use them。 I would make the people return to the use of knottedcords （instead of the written characters）。 They should think their （coarse）food sweet： their （plain） clothes beautiful； their （poor） dwellings placesof rest； and their common （simple） ways sources of enjoyment。 There shouldbe a neighboring state within sight； and the voices of the fowls and dogsshould be heard all the way from it to us； but I would make the peopleto old age； even to death； not have any intercourse with it。？br》
81
Sincere words are not fine； fine words are not sincere。 Those who areskilled （in the Tao） do not dispute （about it）； the disputatious are notskilled in it。 Those who know （the Tao） are not extensively learned； theextensively learned do not know it。 The sage does not accumulate （for himself）。The more that he expends for others； the more does he possess of his own；the more that he gives to others； the more does he have himself。 With allthe sharpness of the Way of Heaven； it injures not； with all the doingin the way of the sage he does not strive。
English_Gibbs_TTK
Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse
Chinese … English by
Tam Gibbs； 1981
1
The tao that can be talked about is not the Absolute Tao。
If it can be named； it is not an Absolute name。
That which has no name is the origin of heaven and earth；
That which has a name is the Mother of all things。
Thus； if always without desire； one can observe indescribable marvels；
If always desirous； one sees merest traces。
These two come from the same source but are differently named。
Both are called Mysterious。
The mystery of the Mysterious is the gateway to all indescribable marvels。
2
If everyone understands the beautiful as beauty； there must be ugliness。
If everyone understands goodness as good； there must be not good。
Being and not being are mutually arising；
Difficult and easy are complementary；
Long and short arise from comparison；
Higher and lower are interdependent；
Vocalisation and verbalisation harmonise with each other；
Before and after accompany each other。
This is why the Sage manages affairs of Non…action and performs wordless teaching。
The myriad things are made without the slightest word。
Nature gives birth but does not possess。
It acts but does not demand subservience。
Only because it claims no credit is it indispensable。
3
Not honouring men of worth keeps the people from competing；
Not wanting rare things keeps the people from thievery；
Not showing off desirous objects keeps the hearts of the people from disaster。
That is why the Sage governs himself by relaxing the mind； reinforcing the abdomen； gentling the will； strengthening the bones。
Always cause the people to be without knowledge or desires。
Cause the intelligent ones to dare not act。
Let there be Non…action and there is nothing that will not be well regulated。
4
The Tao is empty； yet when applied it is never exhausted。
So deep it is； it seems to be the ancestor of all things。
Blunting sharp edges； resolving confusions；
Diffusing glare； uniting the world：
Such d