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People are difficult to rule over。
That is because the government contrives and wants to do too much。
People do not think much of death。
That is because the government makes life a privilege
instead of treating it as a natural right。
Those who makes living an unconditional right are good
in that they pay due respect to life。
76
Strengths and Weaknesses
People at birth are weak and supple。
People at death are strong and hard。
All living things including the trees and other
plants are supple and weak。
When they die； however； they all turn dry and hard。
Being hard and strong is the way of the dead。
Being soft and weak is the way of the alive。
Armed forces that show their strength will not win。
Trees that hold strong against the wind are likely
to be blown down。
To be strong is a disadvantage。
To be weak is an advantage。
77
The Way of Heaven
The Dao of Heaven is like pulling a bow。
The top end comes down and the bottom end goes up。
It takes away from those with surplus to spare
and gives to those who are short。
The way of Heaven takes away from those with surplus to spare
and gives to those who are short。
The way of men is just the opposite。
It takes away from those who are short
and offers to those who have more than enough。
The Sage does his work but is not arrogant。
He accomplishes but will not dwell on his accomplishments。
He does not want to show off his accomplishments。
78
Water and the Paradoxes of Life
Nothing under heaven is weaker than water。
Yet nothing however proficient in attacking the strong can win over water。
The reason is that nothing can lay a handle on water。
The weak overcomes the strong；
The soft overcomes the hard。
All under heaven know about this dictum
but few people can put it into practice。
That is why the Sage says：
〃Those who take what other people discard as garbage
is the lord of Society。
Those who love the nation when it is in the grip of misfortune
can claim to be the king。〃
What is right often seems to be wrong。
79
Do Good Deeds； Blame No One
Trying to neutralize a wrong with another wrong will never work；
because there is bound to be some wrong left over。
To return grievance or wrong with benevolence is
the way to absolve a grievance。
The Sage only sees to it that what is agreed is carried out；
He will not lay the blame on anyone。
The virtuous one only enforces contracts。
The non…virtuous one imposes his will。
The Way of Heaven will not favor any one in particular；
But it will favor those who do good deeds。
80
A Peaceful； Rich； But Simple Life
For a small country with a small population；
Let there be no need to use labor…saving gadgets。
Let people love to die where they are born
and not want to migrate to a distant land。
Let there be no need to use boats for long trips。
Although the country has armed forces ready to protect the country；
Let there be no need to display the military strength。
Let the people find happiness in a simple life。
Let people enjoy their good foods and fine clothing。
Let them settle down peacefully and follow their traditions happily。
Let neighboring nations eye one another；
and hear the calls of poultry and dogs from the other nation。
Let their people find sufficiency in their own lands。
Till their death let there be no need to interact。
81
Doing One抯 Duty
Truthful words may not be fine to hear。
Words that are fine to hear may not be truthful。
Good people will not want to argue
or to defend themselves by word of mouth。
Those who love to argue with others or to defend their beliefs
are likely to be not so good。
Those with insight need not be well versed in different things。
Those who are well versed in different kinds of knowledge may not really know。
The Sage does not set out to accumulate a fortune or merit。
Yet as he serves the people； he becomes richer；
and as he gives to people； he gets more。
The way of heaven is to benefit； not hurt。
The way of the Sage is to do his duty； and not to contest or struggle。
English_Hogan_TTK
Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse
English interpretation by
Ron Hogan； ~2000
Vorwort/Foreword
〃Ancient Chinese Secret； Huh？〃
In the spring of 1994； I was handed a master's degree in film studies and politely invited not to return to graduate school in the fall。 So I went to work at Dutton's； a fantastic indie bookstore in Brentwood； less than a mile from the Simpson condo； but that's another story。 Doug； the owner； lets his employees borrow books from the inventory； on the principle that you can sell books better if you know them better； and that's how I discovered the Tao Te Ching （or TTC； as I'll abbreviate it from now on）。
Oh； I knew about the book beforehand。 I knew it existed； anyway； and I knew it was a classic of Eastern philosophy。 But that's all I knew。 Not that there's that much to know after that； about all anybody can really say about Lao Tzu is that according to legend； about six centuries before Christ； he got fed up with the royal court's inability to take his advice and decided to leave。 Then； the story goes； he was stopped at the Great Wall by a guard who begged him to write down some of his teachings for posterity； and the result was this slim volume。 Once I actually started to read the thing； I was hooked。 Here was a book that managed to say with clarity what I'd been struggling to figure out about spirituality for several years。
The TTC I found at Dutton's was written by Stephen Mitchell； a version which remains popular nearly twenty years after its original composition。 Having read a couple dozen translations since； it's still one of the most accessible versions I've seen； but even then； I found his style a bit too refined； too full of a certain 〃wisdom of the ancients〃 flavor。 For example； here's how Mitchell starts the first chapter：
〃The Tao that can be named
is not the eternal Tao。
The name that can be named
is not the eternal Name。〃
At the time； I was newly infatuated with the writing of Quentin Tarantino and David Mamet； so my dream version of a TTC reflected the simplicity and grit of their dialogue：
〃If you can talk about it； it ain't Tao。
If it has a name； it's just another thing。〃
Anyway； I grabbed a couple other translations and started looking at the different ways they expressed the same sentimentsor； as I quickly discovered； how much poetic license Mitchell and other translators were willing to take with the original text。 I don't think this necessarily matters all that much； many current English… language versions are by people who don't know Chinese well； if at all； and I can't read or speak it myself。 To that extent； then； we're *all* （unless we're fluent in Chinese； that is） at the