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The Sage respects the rights of others practicing putting…up…with getting…along…with； and sharing。
An unwise man knows only demanding and insists on treaties and advantages。
Yet the Tao of heaven knows no favorites forever it gives to the kind man。
80
A country does well to remain small with few inhabitants who are provided with everything yet need little who love life and do not long to roam afar who have armor and weapons but do not use them who possess culture and scholarship yet prefer the usage and wisdom of the ancients。
Their food is natural yet tasty。
Their clothes are plain yet beautiful。
Their dwellings are simple yet comfortable and peaceful。
Their way of life is free and tolerant and a source of unity and contentment。
Though the neighboring State lies within reach and the effervescence of its life is calling temptingly to them they remain self…sufficient and serene and they grow old in peace free from the desire to stray afar。
81
True word is not fine fine word is not true。
He who has Tao does not quarrel。
He who has wisdom does not look for learning。
He who looks for learning has no wisdom。
The Sage does not hoard and yet has plenty。
The more he gives to others the more is bestowed on him。
The greater his sacrifice the greater his Self…possession。
That is the nature of heaven： to help without demanding。
That is the nature of the Sage： to accomplish without laboring。
English_Seddon_TTK
Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse
Chinese … English by
Keith H。 Seddon
1
The Tao that can be put in words is not the ever…abiding Tao；
The name that can be named is not the ever…abiding name。
The Nameless gives rise to Heaven and Earth。
The Named is the Mother of the Ten Thousand Things。？br》
Therefore：
It is always so that without desires you can behold its mystery；
Always so that having desires you can behold its manifestations。
These two？are one and the same； and differ only in name。
This being so is profound； mysterious； and dark：
The threshold to all secrets。
1。 i。e。 all things in existence。
2。 i。e。 the Nameless and the Named。
2
When all beneath Heaven？know beauty as beauty
There is ugliness。
When all know good as good
There is evil。
Thus being and non…being arise together；
Easy and difficult rely upon each other；
Long and short are dependent upon each other；
High and low contrast with each other；
Music and voice harmonise together。
Before and after follow each other。
Therefore the Sage acts by doing nothing and teaches without speaking。
The Ten Thousand Things arise； but he doesn抰 cause them to come。
They come into being； yet he claims no possession over them。
He works for their benefit； yet requires no gratitude。
He accomplishes his tasks； yet claims no merit。
Because he claims no merit； his merit does not leave him。
1。 態eneath Heaven？refers to the phenomenal world of everyday experience。
3
Do not exalt the gifted； and the people will not be jealous。
Do not prize rare treasures； and the people will not steal them。
Do not display desirable things； and the hearts of the people will not be distracted。
Therefore the wise ruler：
Empties their hearts and fills their bellies；
Weakens their ambitions and strengthens their bones。
He keeps the people without knowledge and free from desire
So that those who know dare not act。
He acts without acting and everything is kept in order。
4
The Tao is like an empty vessel； yet may be drawn from without ever needing to be filled。？br》 In its unfathomable depths arise the Ten Thousand Things。
It blunts sharp edges；
Unties all tangles；
It softens the glare
And blends with the dust。？br》 Hidden in the depths； perhaps it just seems to exist。
Its origin is a mystery to me。
It seems to be older than Heaven。
1。 Waley （1977； 146） observes； 慏ust is the Taoist symbol for the noise and fuss of everyday life。？The Tao exists everywhere ？even in ch抏n； dust。
5
Heaven and Earth are not benevolent；
They regard the Ten Thousand Things as straw dogs。？br》 The Sage is not benevolent；
He regards the Hundred Families？as straw dogs。
The space between Heaven and Earth is like a bellows：
It is empty； yet not exhausted；
The more it is used； the more it produces。
Many words exhaust themselves。
It is better to watch over what is within。？
1。 Straw dogs were made to be sacrificial offerings at religious ceremonies。 Afterwards； having served their purpose； they would be thrown away and trampled under foot in the street or burned as fuel。 （See Ch抏n Ku…ying 1977； 70； P。 J。 Lin 1977； 12； Wilhelm 1985； 65； Welch 1966； 42； and Wieger 1988； 88。）
2。 i。e。 all people。
3。 presumably； the Tao。 But the 慹mpty centre？may well be alluding to the bellows simile already introduced； if this is so； the 慹mpty centre？of the bellows should be likened to the space between Heaven and Earth。 This space is where mankind dwells； and this line may be an exhortation discouraging people from presuming too much； or taking on tasks beyond their capacity。 This interpretation at least accords with the general philosophy of the Tao Te Ching。 Cf。 Welch （1966； 44？） for an illuminating analysis of this chapter。
6
The Spirit of the Valley never dies。
It is called the Mysterious Female。？br》 The gate of the Mysterious Female is the source of Heaven and Earth。
Ever…abiding； always existing；
It can be used； but never exhausted。
1。 presumably； the Mother of the Ten Thousand Things （which is the Tao itself）。 This chapter is obscure。 Lau （1963； xxxviii杋x） suggests it echoes a primitive creation myth。
7
Heaven is eternal and Earth everlasting。
They are eternal and everlasting because they do not exist for themselves；
And thus they last forever。
This is why the Sage puts himself last； yet stays out ahead；
He forgets himself and is thus preserved。
Is this not because being selfless； he will thereby be fulfilled？
8
The superior man is like water。
Water benefits the Ten Thousand Things； but does not compete with them。
It stays in the places which people despise；
And thus is close to Tao。
For his dwelling he chooses good ground；
he has a mind that loves the profound；
is benevolent when dealing with others；
is sincere when he speaks；
preserves order when ruling；
shows competence in business；
and takes action at the proper time。
Because he does not compete； he is beyond reproach。
9
Rather than fill the cup to the brim； it is better to stop in time。
The finely honed blade will soon lose its sharpness。
Fill the hall with gold and jade； and no one can guard it。
Those who take pride in their wealth and honours； attract their own downfall。
To stop when the task is finished is the Way of Heaven。
10
Can you embrace the onene