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！
Succeed but don't brag about it；
Succeed but don't be arrogant；
Succeed and take it as you have to；
Succeed and don't attempt to dominate。
Things must grow old after reaching their prime； which is contrary to Tao。
Whatever is contrary to Tao will soon perish。
31
Weapons are instruments of evil；
They are disdained by everyone。
Therefore those who possess Tao stay away from them。
When at home jun…zi honours the left；
When at war he honours the right。
Weapons are the instruments of evil； not the instruments of jun…zi。
When he uses them unavoidably； he maintains an indifferent attitude。
Even when he is victorious； he doesn't think himself praiseworthy。
If he praises his victory； he is a man delighting in the slaughter of people。
He who delights in the slaughter of people will not succeed under Heaven。
On happy occasions； the left is honoured。
On unhappy occasions； the right is honoured。
The lieutenant…general stands on the left；
The senior general stands on the right。
That is to say that the arrangement of war affairs follows that of funeral ceremonies。
The war will slaughter the multitude of people。
So we should go to the battleground with sorrow and grief。
Even if it is won； we observe the occasion with funeral ceremonies。
32
Tao has no name forever。
Though the simplicity seems small； it may be subordinated to nothing under Heaven。
If kings and princes can preserve it； all creatures would submit of themselves to them。
（Yin and Yang between） Heaven and Earth unite to drip sweet dew。
Without the command of the people； it drips evenly over all。
Once there was government； there were names appearing。
Once there were names； one has to know where and when to stop。
By practicing moderation one can be free from danger。
Everything under Heaven is embraced by Tao； just like every river or stream running into the sea。
33
He who knows others is wise；
He who knows himself is enlightened。
He who conquers others can be called physically strong；
He who conquers himself is mighty。
He who is content is rich；
He who acts with persistence has will；
He who does not lose his root will endure；
He who dies physically； but preserves Tao will enjoy a long life。
34
The great Tao is like a river overflowing；
It can go left； it can go right。
All things owe their existence to it；
But it never interferes with them。
When its work is accomplished； it is unable to say where its credit is。
It protects and nourishes； but it does not claim to be master over them。
Always without its desire； it may be called small。
All things come to it as their home；
And yet it does not pose as their master。
It may be called great。
It is precisely because it never claims to be great； that it can achieve its greatness。
35
Whoever holds fast to the great image will become that one to whom all people under Heaven will come。
（Even if all people under Heaven） come to him they will not hinder each other；
And all enjoy comfort； peace and health。
Music and dainties will make passing guests stop；
（But） Tao； if spoken out； will be insipid and tasteless。
Being looked at； it is imperceptible；
Being listened to； it is inaudible；
Being utilized； it is inexhaustible。
36
In order to contract it； it is necessary to expand it for the time being。
In order to weaken it； it is necessary to strengthen it for the time being。
In order to destroy it； it is necessary to promote it for the time being。
In order to grasp it； it is necessary to give to it for the time being。
This is called profound insight （and also the reason why） the soft and the weak overcome the hard and the strong。
（Just like） fish cannot be taken away from deep water；
Effective weapons of the state cannot be easily displayed to others。
37
Tao invariably does nothing；
And yet there is nothing left undone。
If kings and princes can preserve it；
All things will submit to them spontaneously。
（After their） submission if any desires occur；
I should subdue them with the nameless simplicity。
The nameless simplicity is nothing but eradication of desires。
Eradication of desires will lead to quietude。
Thus the world will naturally find its equilibrium。
38
The superior virtue does not show itself in formal virtue；
In this way it really possesses virtue。
The inferior virtue rigidly sticks to formal virtue；
In this way it loses virtue。
The superior virtue takes no action to show itself； and need not do so purposefully。
The inferior virtue takes action to show itself； and does so purposefully。
The superior benevolence takes action to show itself； and does so on purpose。
The superior righteousness takes action to show itself； and does so on purpose。
The superior propriety takes action to show itself；
And when it gets no response； it will stretch its arms and retaliate。
Therefore； only when Tao is lost does De arise；
Only when De is lost does benevolence arise；
Only when benevolence is lost does righteousness arise；
Only when righteousness is lost does propriety arise。
The thing that is called propriety is really the want of loyalty and faithfulness and the beginning of disorder。
The thing that is called foresight is really the ornament of Tao and the beginning of ignorance。
For this reason the great man dwells in the thick and keeps away from the thin；
He dwells in plainness and keeps away from the ornament。
Therefore he rejects the latter and accepts the former。
39
From of old those that attained one principle （Tao）…
Heaven attained the One and became clear；
Earth attained the One and became tranquil；
Spirits attained the One and became divine；
Valleys attained the One and became full；
All things attained the One and became luxuriant；
Kings and princes attained the One and became heads of the kingdom。
What they strove to achieve was fulfilled by the principle （the One）。
If Heaven couldn't have become clear it would soon crack。
If Earth couldn't have become tranquil it would soon be shaken。
If spirits couldn't have become divine they would soon perish。
If valleys couldn't have become luxuriant they would soon be extinct。
If kings and princes couldn't have maintained their majesty and nobility they would soon lose their kingdoms and states。
Therefore the noble takes the humble as it root；
And the high takes the low as its ground。
Just for this reason kings and princes call themselves the orphaned； the solitary and the unworthy。
Is it not regarding the humble as the root of the noble？
Is it not so？
Therefore to seek too much honour means to lose honour wholly。
So neither the noble jade； nor the humble rocks should one strive to be。
40
Reversion is the movement of Tao；
Weakness is the function of Tao。