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They think they don't know what they do
Excellence does not come； however； from knowing everything or knowingnothing
But merely from knowing that you don't know
72
When people don't fear your power； then you have found true power
You can only constrain people by making them fear you
Limit their actions and their potentials by making them fear the consequences
But if they fear like this they will feel cheated and be discontent
Know where you want to the nation to go； but don't worry about how toget there
Know your worth； but let others find it for themselves
73
There are two kinds of bravery
That which takes death lightly and that which takes life seriously
Where one needs to be brave either will suffice
But they are not both in line with the tao
The tao honors what can win without belligerence
What can respond without speaking
For such； everything needed comes on its own without being called
Everything desired is achieved without being planned
It pays to remember that the tao casts its net far and wide
Its cord may look flimsy and its mesh coarse； but nothing escapes it
74
If people were content with their own deaths
You could not use force on them；？they would be immune
But this is not the way the world is
If you threaten them with death to make them behave
You must assign someone to kill them； or do it yourself
Who； then； kills：？you； or the executioner； or the state？
Someone must take the responsibility
Whoever is responsible for death has put his way above the tao
Yet though he can end a life； the tao will by its nature find a wayto return
Any sane man would find in that cause for worry
75
The more the leader fills his coffers； the more people go hungry
The more he rules on this or that； the more people are discontent
People who avidly seek to experience life take death lightly
Those who do not try to live life to its fullest are truly alive
76
When people are born they are supple and soft
When they die they are stiff and hard
What is full of life is lithe and moist and resilient
What is drained of it is brittle； withered； dry
The former are the marks of life
While the latter are the marks of death
If a soldier is stiff； whether with fear or pride； he will be defeated
If a tree is stiff； it will fall to the next wind
If you become stiff to raise yourself above others； you will fall
Let yourself fall； be supple and responsive； and you will be lifted
77
The way is like the bending of a bow
To achieve its ends the top must bend down and the bottom rise up
It takes from that which has much； adds to that which has little
And keeps a still； quiet center
Men； however； always seek to add more； regardless of their place
How can anything be accomplished that way？
The taoist way is to pull the bowstring and let it go
Accomplish the task and move on to the next
Doing is profit enough
78
There is nothing softer and more yielding than water
Yet nothing hard and rigid can withstand it
Everyone knows this
That water can defeat the unyielding； that the weak can overcome thestrong
Yet no one is willing to put it into practice
If you would be a leader； you must claim every disgrace of the state
Take all the offenses of the state as your own burden
How can you be honored if you run from dishonor？
79
If you have to make things bitter to get them settled；the bitternesswill remain
The taoist； then； holds the debt but doesn't demand repayment
Thus； when he is repaid； the debt is forgotten
Fail that； and you will be treated like a tax collector
And known as such even by those who owe you nothing
The tao plays no favorites
It supplies all who act with virtue
80
If the tao held sway； nations would be small and people few
There might be weapons enough； but no one would use them or displaythem
All would regard fighting as a serious； unpleasant affair
They might have boats and carriages enough； but no one would ride them
All would be content with what they see and know
There might be laws and contracts； but no one would write them
All would pay their debts as they could； because no one would careif they didn't
Such a land would delight in their food； their clothing； their traditions
And feel safe and secure in their homes
Though neighboring lands might be close enough that their songs areheard
One could grow old without ever having the urge to visit them
81
It is one thing to speak elegantly and another to speak sincerely
Knowledge and insight are different things
The first accumulates fine distinctions； precise statements
And the other； well； it sees all as essentially the same
Whoever follows the way hoards nothing
Life is too long a journey to carry excess weight
He uses what he has for others
And finds his spirit lighter and his heart enriched
The tao sustains all without fear of exhaustion
And virtue lies in letting it。
English_Wu_TTK
Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse
Chinese … English by
John C。 H。 Wu
1
TAO can be talked about； but not the Eternal Tao。
Names can be named； but not the Eternal Name。
As the origin of heaven…and…earth； it is nameless：
As 〃the Mother〃 of all things； it is nameable。
So； as ever hidden； we should look at its inner essence：
As always manifest； we should look at its outer aspects。
These two flow from the same source； though differently named；
And both are called mysteries。
The Mystery of mysteries is the Door of all essence。
2
WHEN all the world recognises beauty as beauty； this in itself is ugliness。
When all the world recognises good as good； this in itself is evil。
Indeed； the hidden and the manifest give birth to each other。
Difficult and easy complement each other。
Long and short exhibit each other。
High and low set measure to each other。
Voice and sound harmonize each other。
Back and front follow each other。
Therefore； the Sage manages his affairs without ado；
And spreads his teaching without talking。
He denies nothing to the teeming things。
He rears them； but lays no claim to them。
He does his work； but sets no store by it。
He accomplishes his task； but does not dwell upon it。
And yet it is just because he does not dwell on it
That nobody can ever take it away from him。
3
BY not exalting the talented you will cause the people to cease from rivalry and contention。
By not prizing goods hard to get； you will cause the people to cease from robbing and stealing。
By not displaying what is desirable； you will cause the people's hearts to remain undisturbed。
Therefore； the Sage's way of governing begins by
Emptying the heart of desires；
Filling the belly