按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
You'll be the model for the country。
And when you're the model for the country；
Your constant virtue will not go astray。
And when your constant virtue does not go astray；
You'll return to the condition which has no limit。
When uncarved wood is cut up； it's turned into vessels；
When the Sage is used； he becomes the Head of Officials。
Truly； great carving is done without splitting up。
29
For those who would like to take control of thw world and act on it？br》 I see that with this they simply will not succeed。
The world is a sacred vessel；
It is not something that can be acted upon。
Those who act on it destroy it；
Those who hold on to it lose it。
With things梥ome go forward； others follow；
Some are hot； others submissive and weak；
Some rise up while others fall down。
Therefore the Sage：
Rejects the extreme； the excessive； and the extravagant。
30
Those who assist their rulers with the Way；
Don't use weapons to commit violence in the world。
Such deeds easily rebound。
In places where armies are stationed； thorns and brambles will grow。
The good ＇general＇ achieves his result and that's all；
He does not use the occasion to seize strength from it。
He achieves his result but does not become arrogant；
He achieves his result but does not praise his deeds；
He achieves his result and yet does not brag。
He achieves his result； yet he abides with the result because he has no choice。
This is called achieving one's result ＇without＇ using force。
When things reach their primes； they get old；
We called this 〃not the Way。〃
What is not the Way will come to an early end。
31
As for weapons梩hey are instruments of ill omen。
And among things there are those that hate them。
Therefore； the one who has the Way； with them does not dwell。
When the gentleman is at home； he honors the left；
When at war； he honors the right。
Therefore； weapons are not the instrument of the gentleman？br》 Weapons are instruments of ill omen。
When you have no choice but to use them； it's best to remain tranquil and calm。
You should never look upon them as things of beauty。
If you see them as beautiful things梩his is to delight in the killing of men。
And when you delight in the killing of men； you'll not realize your goal in the land。
Therefore； in happy events we honor the left；
But in mourning we honor the right。
Therefore； the lieutenant general stands on the left；
And the supreme general stands on the right。
Which is to say； they arrange themselves as they would at a funeral。
When multitudes of people are killed； we stand before them in sorrow and grief。
When we're victorious in battle； we treat the occasion like a funeral ceremony。
32
The Dao is constantly nameless。
Though in its natural state it seems small； no one in the world dares to treat it as a subject。
Were marquises and kings able to maintain it；
The ten thousand things would submit to them on their own；
And Heaven and Earth would unite to send forth sweet dew。
By nature it would fall equally on all things； with no one among the people ordering that it be so。
As soon as we start to establish a system； we have names。
And as soon as there are set names；
Then you must also know that it's time to stop。
By knowing to stop梚n this way you'll come to no harm。
The Way's presence in the world
Is like the relationship of small valley ＇streams＇ to rivers and seas。
33
To understand others is to be knowledgeable；
To understand yourself is to be wise。
To conquer others is to have strength；
To conquer yourself is to be strong。
To know when you have enough is to be rich。
To go forward with strength is to have ambition。
To not lose your place is to last long。
To die but not be forgotten梩hat's ＇true＇ long life。
34
The Way floats and drifts；
It can go left or right。
It accomplishes its tasks and completes its affairs； and yet for this it is not given a name。
The ten thousand things entrust their lives to it； and yet it does not act as their master。
Thus it is constantly without desires。
It can be named with the things that are small。
The ten thousand things entrust their lives to it； and yet it does not not act as their master。
It can be named with the things that are great。
Therefore the Sage's ability to accomplish the great
Comes from his not playing the role of the great。
Therefore he is able to accomplish the great。
35
Hold on to the Great Image and the whole world will come to you。
Come to you and suffer no harm； but rather know great safety and peace。
Music and food梖or these passing travelers stop。
Therefore； of the Dao's speaking； we say：
Insipid； it is！ It's lack of flavor。
When you look at it； it's not sufficient to be seen；
When you listen to it； it's not sufficient to be heard；
Yet when you use it； it can't be used up。
36
If you wish to shrink it；
You must certainly stretch it。
If you wish to weaken it；
You must certainly strengthen it。
If you wish to desert it；
You must certainly work closely with it。
If you wish to snatch something from it；
You must certainly give something to it。
This is called the Subtle Light。
The submissive and weak conquer the strong。
Fish should not be taken out of the depths；
The state's sharp weapons should not be shown to the people。
37
The Dao is constantly nameless。
Were Marquises and kings able to maintain it；
The ten thousand things would transform on their own。
Having transformed； were their desires to become active；
I would subdue them with the nameless simplicity。
Having subdued them with the nameless simplicity；
I would not disgrace them。
By not being disgraced； they will be tranquil。
And Heaven and Earth will of themselves be correct and right。
38
The highest virtue is not virtuous； therefore it truly has virtue。
The lowest virtue never loses sight of its virtue； therefore it has no true virtue。
The highest virtue takes no action； yet it has no reason for acting this way；
The highest humanity takes action； yet it has no reason for acting this way；
The highest righteousness takes action； and it has its reason for acting this way；
The highest propriety takes action； and when no one responds to it； then it angrily rolls up its sleeves and forces people to comply。
Therefore； when the Way is lost； only then do we have virtue；
When virtue is lost； only then do we have humanity；
When humanity is lost； only then do we have righteousness；
And when righteousness is lost； only then do we have propriety。
As for propriety； it's but the thin edge of loyalty and sincerity； and the beginning of disorder。
And foreknowledge is but the flower of the Way； and the beginning of stupidity。
Therefore the G