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works without taking；
achieves without keeping；
does not show his greatness。
78
Nothing is more soft and yielding than water；
for cutting things hard and strong； nothing is better；
because it persists。
The weak can overcome the strong；
the supple can overcome the stiff。
Everyone knows this；
yet no one puts it into practice。
Therefore； the sage says：
who shoulders the humiliation of the people； fits to rule them；
who shoulder the country's disaster； deserves to be the king。
The truth often sounds paradoxical。
79
After the settlement of a big case；
someone could breach the agreement。
What can one do about it？
The sage keeps his half of the bargain； and not blame the others。
A man of Virtue performs his part；
A man without Virtue requires others to fulfill their obligations。
The Tao of heaven is impartial。
It awards virtuous men all the time。
80
A small country has fewer people。
Though there are machines that can work ten or hundred times fasterthan man；
they are not needed。
The people want to be buried home； not travel far。
Though they have boats and carriages； no one uses them。
Though they have armor and weapons； no one displays them。
Men return to the knotting of rope in place of writing。
Their food is good； their clothes fine； their homes secure；
they are happy in their traditions。
Though they live within sight of their neighbors；
and crowing cocks and barking dogs are heard across the way；
they will not engage （visit） each other in their entire life。
81
Truthful words are not beautiful。
Beautiful words are often not truthful。
Good man do not argue。
Those who argue are not good。
Those who know； do not know everything。
Those who know everything； do not know。
The sage never tries to store things up。
The more he does for others； the more he has。
The more he gives to others； the greater his abundance。
Tao of heaven benefits； not harms。
Tao of the sage is working without claiming。
English_GornOld_TTK
Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse
Chinese … English by
Walter Gorn…Old； 1904
1
The Tao that is the subject of discussion is not the true Tao。
The quality which can be named is not its true attribute。
That which was before Heaven and Earth is called the Non…Existent。
The Existent is the mother of all things。
Therefore doth the wise man seek after the first mystery of the Non…Existent； while seeing in that which exists the Ultimates thereof。
The Non…Existent and Existent are identical in all but name。
This identity of apparent opposites I call the profound； the great deep； the open door of bewilderment。
2
When the world speaks of beauty as being beautiful； ugliness is at once defined。
When goodness is seen to be good； evil is at once apparent。
So do existence and non…existence mutually give rise to one another； as that which is difficult and that which is easy； distant and near； high and low； shrill and bass； preceding and following。
The Sage therefore is occupied only with that which is without prejudice。
He teaches without verbosity； he acts without effort； he produces with possessing； he acts without regard to the fruit of action； he brings his work to perfection without assuming credit； and claiming nothing as his own； he cannot at any time be said to lose。
3
Avoiding distinctions of merit among the people prevents jealousy。
Not setting a value on rare things prevents theft。
Not seeking the things of peace keeps the mind in peace。
Thus the Sage governs by ridding the heart of its desires； giving the stomach due satisfaction； by resting the muscles and strengthening the bones； by preserving the world from a knowledge of evil and hence from its desire； and by making those who have such knowledge afraid to use it。
He cacts by non…action； and by this he governs all。
4
Tao is without limitation； its depth is the source of whatsoever is。
It makes shard things round； it brings order out of chaos； it obscures the brilliant； it is wholly without attachment。
I do not know who gave it birth； it is more ancient than God。
5
Neither Heaven nor Earth has any predilections； they regard all persons and things as sacrificial images。
The wise man knows no distinctions； he beholds all men as things made for holy uses。
The celestial space is like unto bellows though containing nothing that is solid； it does not at any time collapse； and the more it is set in motion； the more does it produce。
The inflated man； however； is soon exhausted。
Than self…restraint there is nothing better。
6
Like the river in the valley； the spirit is never dried up。
I call it the Mother…Deep。
The motion of the Mother…Deep I regard as the origin of the Heaven and the Earth。
Forever it endures and moves without design。
7
Both Heaven and Earth endure a long time。
The cause of their endurance is their indifference to long life。
This is why the subsist。
Thus the wise man； indifferent to himself； is the greatest among men； and taking no care for himself； he is nevertheless preserved。
By being the most unselfish he is the most secure of all。
8
The greatest virtue is like water； it is good to all things。
It attains the most inaccessible places without strife。
Therefore it is like Tao。
It has the virtue of adapting itself to its place。
It is virtuous like the heart by being deep。
It is virtuous like speech be being faithful。
It is virtuous like government in regulating。
It is virtuous like a servant in its ability。
It is virtuous like action by being in season。
And because it does not strive it has no enemies。
9
It is advisable to refrain from continual reaching after wealth。
Continual handling and sharpening wears away the most durable thing。
If the house be full of jewels； who shall protect it？
Wealth and glory bring care along with pride。
To stop when good work is done and honour advancing is the way of Heaven。
10
By conserving the natural and spiritual powers it is possible to escape dissolution。
By restraining the passions and letting gentleness have its sway it is possible to continue as a child。
By purging the mind of impurities it is possible to remain untainted。
By governing the people with love it is possible to remain unknown。
By continual use of the Gates of Heaven it is possible to preserve them from rust。
By transparency on all sides it is possible to remain unrecognized。
o bring forth and preserve； to produce without possessing； to act without hope of reward； and to expand without waste； this is the supreme virtue。
11
The thirty spokes of a carriage wheel uniting at the nave are made useful by the hole in the centre； where nothing exists。
Vessels of moulded earth are useful by reason of their hollowness。