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THE HARD AND THE SOFT
At birth； as in life； mankind is gentle； soft and weak。
In death； he becomes hard and rigid。
All creatures and All Things …
While alive and growing are soft and supple。
When dead； become withered； tough； brittle and dry。
Hard； rigid； withered； tough； brittle and dry；
Being companions of death …
Gentle； soft； weak and supple are
Companions of life。
Thus …
The hard weapon will be broken。
The hardwood tree will be cut down。
The hard and the mighty are cast down。
The soft and the weak are exalted。
77
EQUILIBRIUM
As a bow is bent； so bends the way of nature。
That at the top；
Bent downward toward the center。
That at the bottom；
Bent upward toward the center。
The string …
If too long； is shortened；
If too short； is lengthened。
The Tao of nature strives for equilibrium。
That which is abundant is reduced。
That which is deficient is supplemented。
Mankind； on the other hand； will often …
Further reduce what is deficient；
Supplement that which is abundant。
The Sage alone …
Having abundance； offers it to the world。
Works quietly without arousing attention。
Acts without claiming recognition or reward。
Has no desire to reveal his superiority。
78
THE CHARACTER OF WATER
Flowing water …
Being softer and more yielding than all else under the heavens；
Has no equal in attacking and prevailing against that which is hard and resistant。
The supple； weak and yielding； thereby；
Conquer the rigid； strong and resistant。
While this is known by all mankind；
Few are they who can flow in this manner。
Thus the Sage …
By accepting the disgrace and humiliation of the community；
Is called a leader in the community。
By receiving the burdens and misfortunes of the nation；
Becomes a ruler of the nation。
Surely these words； while paradoxical； are true。
79
OF OBLIGATIONS AND CLAIMS
At the conclusion of a serious dispute；
It is rare that some resentment not remain behind。
To restore harmony； the Sage；
Keeping to the letter of the agreement with regard to his own obligations；
Never compels the other to fulfill his responsibilities。
Having Te； one would attend to obligations。
Without Te； one would press claims。
While it is the nature of Tao to be free of partiality；
Holding to the essence of the Tao；
The truly virtuous find the Tao abiding within。
80
THE IDEAL STATE
A small； intimate； sparsely populated community；
Was thought by its ruler to be an ideal easily controlled state。
Labor saving devices and life's necessities；
Existing in abundance；
Were not used or needed。
Being satisfied with the quality of life；
There was no need to search for better things。
Having boats and carriages；
There appeared no use for them。
Having arms and weapons；
There was no occasion for their employment。
Being simple；
The commerce of the community required
no greater means than knotted cords
to ease the accounting of transactions。
Thus the people were：
… Satisfied with their food。
… Content with their clothing。
… Comfortable with their shelter。
… Happy with their customs and traditions。
Even though neighboring communities
were within sight and earshot of cocks and barking dogs；
They would leave each other in peace while they would grow old and die。
81
IN CONCLUSION
Truthful words are rarely pleasant and fine sounding。
Pleasant and fine sounding words are rarely truthful。
The good need not prove by argument。
To prove by argument is rarely good。
True wisdom rarely springs from learning。
Learning rarely is indicative of true wisdom。
The sage need never hoard。
Doing more for others； The more he gains。
Giving more to others； The greater is his abundance。
The Tao of heaven benefits without injury or harm。
The Tao of the Sage accomplishes without striving or contention。
？Copyright 1997 Alan B。 Taplow
First published in 1982 … ISBN 0…941758…01…X
All Rights Reserved … This complete heading must appear on all copies
Permission given to freely copy and distribute as long as not for commercial gain。
If sold for profit； permission must be obtained from：
Alan B。 Taplow
844 John Fowler Road
Plainfield； VT 05667
English_Trottier_TTK
Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse
Chinese … English by
John Louis Albert Trottier； 1994
1
TAO （THE LAWS OF THE UNIVERSE） can be talked about；
but not the Eternal Tao （Laws of the Universe）。
Names can be named；
but not the Eternal Name。
（You cannot name the unknown。）
As the origin of heaven…and…earth；
it is not describable：
As 〃the Mother〃 of all things；
it is describable。
（You cannot describe the unknown origin。）
As it is always hidden；
We should look at its Inner Sum and Substance （through philosophy
and poetry）：
As always visible；
We should look at its Outer Form （through science and obsevation）。
These two flow from the same source
（the Laws of the Universe；）
though differently named；
And both are called mysteries。
The Mystery of mysteries is the Gate of all sum and substance。
（Beyond the gate of experience is the Way。
It is in all ways greater and more subtle than the world。）
2
When all the world recognizes beauty as beauty；
this in itself is ugliness；
（for it lacks a seeing of the Truth。）
（When all of humankind abstracts beauty there is no beauty）。
When all the world recognizes good as good； this in itself is
destruction。；
（for it lacks a seeing of the Truth。）
（What is good in one circumstance is bad in another）。
Indeed； the hidden and the visible give birth to each other。
Hard and easy balance each other。
Long and short give measure to each other。
High and low set measure to each other。
Voice and sound give wholeness each other。
Back and front follow each other。
Therefore； the Complete Thinker
experiences without abstraction
and accomplishes without visible action；
Yet spreads their teaching by actions。
Accepting the ebb and flow of
the many living things。
Raises them；
but makes no claim of them。
Does his work；
but does not brag about it。
Finishing tasks；
and moves on。
And yet it is just because
of moving on。
That nobody can take
works away。
3
By not making great the worthy
you will cause the people
to stop from having enemies and fighting。
（When everyone is equal； each is rewarded fairly。）
By not giving value to
goods hard to get；
you will cause the people
to stop from robbing and stealing。
（When material goods have no value there is no temptation to steal。）
By not showing
what people would like