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Well； it's in the fixed dao sets of heavennot to strive in the open； but none the less to conquer。 Not to compete；but all the same win expertly。 Be good at conquest without strife。
Dao hardly speaks； it skilfully responds。It comes without skilful invitation； it can appear without a call。 It doesn'tseem anxious about things and yet it shows up it plans very well。 It getsable results without obvious design； as from hidden； laid； ＇broad＇ plansand schemes。＇Say little； foster well laid schemes and designs。＇
Dao…heaven's net is wide； with big； coarsemeshes。 Still it misses nothing。 Nothing slips through。
74
When the people are not afraid of death；why threaten them with death sentences？
Even supposing the people are constantlyafraid of death and we can seize and kill those who are unruly or vicious；who would dare to slay them？ There's always the master executioner （Heaven）。To kill in his stead is like thrusting oneself into he master…carpenter'splace and doing his chipping for him。 〃He who tries it is lucky if he doesn'tcut his hand；〃 they say。 To undertake executions for the master executioneris like hewing wood for him。 It rarely happens you escape injuring yourown hands。 Now； often it happens as well that the executioner is killed…
And to take the place of the executioneris in part like handling the hatchet for the master carpenter。 He who handlesthe hatchet for the master carpenter seldom escapes injury to his hands。
75
People are hungry because rulers eat toomuch income； too much tax…grain。 Therefore they starve； but also becauseof bad interference from those above。 Some turn hard to rule as their rulersdo too many things。 That's why they're hard to keep in order。
If so； the people are not very afraid ofdeath； as they're anxious to make a living。 That's why they take deathlightly in such cases。
So： Those who interfere not with their livingthat are wise in exalting life。 Maybe he who seeks only little after lifecan excel in making life valuable。 But all that have hearts set only littleon life could be superior to those who set store by life。
76
When man is born； he is tender and weak。In death he becomes stiff and hard。
All things； the grass as well as trees； aresupple and soft while alive。 When dead they become brittle and dried。
So hardness and stiffness very often accompanydeath； the soft and gentle could be companions of life。
The headstrong army will lose in battle。They say 〃the weapon that's too hard will be broken； the tree that hasthe hardest wood will be cut down〃。 Yes； a hard tree will be cut down。
So the hard and mighty eventually shouldbe cast down； and the soft and weak may be set on high。
77
Heaven's way is like the bending of a bow。When a bow is bent the top comes down and the bottom…end comes up。
So too could heaven take away from thosewho have too much； and give to those that have not enough。 Take away fromthose that have too much and give to those that have not enough。
But this is far from man's way。 He takesaway from those that have not enough to offer those who already have toomuch。
The man of dao can fool enough and spare；and next give to the whole world。
So the wise man acts； but doesn't possess；accomplishes but lays claim to no credit。
If he accomplishes a task； achieves an aim；he doesn't wish to reveal himself as better than others。 So he seems toclaim no credit。 He seems to have no wish to appear superior； no desireto display excellence。
78
There's hardly anything more yielding than＇gas； air； and＇ water； but almost none is better in attacking the resistantand hard；
There are few substitutes for it。
Thus the yielding may conquer the resistantand the soft the hard。 This was utilised by none I knew。
Wise sayings；
〃Only he who has accepted the dirt of a countrycan be lord of its soil…shrines： can become heaven…accepted there。 Whobears evils of the country can become a king。 Who takes into himself thecalumny of the world serves to preserve the state。〃
Straight words seem crooked。
79
To allay the main discontent； but in a waythat begets further discontents； can hardly be top successful。 And to patchup great hatred is sure to leave some hatred behind； how can this be regardedas satisfactory？
So the wise man keeps the obligation of acontract
and refrains from blaming the other party。He stays where he is and does not go round making claims on people。
Therefore good people attend to their obligations；while those without virtue attend to other people's mistakes。
The way of heaven is impartial。 It's alwayswith the good man； without distinction of persons； to keep the good firmlysupplied。''
80
Let there be a small country with few people。Let there be ten times and a hundred times as many utensils and let themnot be used。
Let there be contrivances requiring ten times；a hundred times less labour； they should not use them。
Let the people value their lives highly andnot travel far。 Bring it about that the people are quite ready to lay downtheir lives at times to defend their homes rather than emigrate。
As for ships and carriages； let there benone to ride。
There can still be weapons； but no one todrill seriously with them and none to display them often。
People should have no use for any form ofwriting save knotted ropes： Let the people again knot cords for reckoning。
Let them be very pleased with their food；beautify their clothing； be content with their homes； take pleasure inrustic tasks； and delight in such customs ＇just like Negroes＇。
The neighbouring place can be overlooked；can be so near that one may hear the cocks crowing in it； the dogs barking；but the people would grow old and die without ever having been there。
and never outside their country。
81
True words hardly sound fine。 Nice wordsare far from always true。
A good man seldom proves by argument； hehardly argues。 He who argues or proves by argument is hardly so good （asnon…argumentative good men）。 Who argues ＇blatantly＇ is hardly （ever） agood man。
＇All this is 〃Lao〃 arguing； debating or clowning。＇
Brilliant wisdom is different from sordidlearning。 Much bookish learning can mean too little wisdom。 Who has extensiveknowledge is hardly a wise man。
The wise man has no need to hoard for himself。He lives for other people； seemingly； and grows richer himself if the morehe uses for others； the more he has for himself … He gives to other peopleto get greater abundance。
Heaven's way is to sharpen and bless； allfree from harm of cutting；
And the wise man's way is to act and accomplishwithout contending or striving。
English_Chan_TTK
Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse
Chinese … English by
Wing…Tsit Chan； 1963
1
The Tao that can be told of is not the eternal Tao； The name that can be named is not the eternal name。
The Nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth； The Named is the mother of all things。
Therefore let there always be non…being； so we may see their subtlety； And let there always be being； so we may