[转载]《道德经》(中英文及翻译文)(2)
2019-03-19 10:31阅读:
本文转自冬日恋歌在163的博客
http://bhygz2008.blog.163.com/blog/static/12018546620117216156561/
40道德经:
反者道之动;弱者道之用。天下万物生于有,有生于无。
Dao
De
Jing:
(Dispensing
with
the
use
(of
means))
The
movement
of
the
Dao
By
contraries
proceeds;
And
weakness
marks
the
course
Of
Dao's
mighty
deeds.
All
things
under
heaven
sprang
from
It
as
existing
(and
named);
that
existence
sprang
from
It
as
non-
existent
(and
not
named).
41道德经:
上士闻道,勤而行之;中士闻道,若存若亡;下士闻道,大笑之。不笑不足以为道。故建言有之:明道若昧;进道若退;夷道若纇;上德若谷;太白若辱;广德若不足;建德若偷;质真若渝;大方无隅;大器晚成;大音希声;大象无形;道隐无名。夫唯道,善贷且成。
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Dao De Jing: (Sameness and
difference)
Scholars of the highest class,
when they hear about the
Dao, earnestly carry it into
practice. Scholars of the middle
class, when they have heard
about it, seem now to
keep it and now to lose
it. Scholars of the lowest
class, when they have heard
about it, laugh greatly at
it. If it were not (thus)
laughed at, it would not
be fit to be the
Dao.
Therefore the sentence-makers have thus
expressed themselves:
'The Dao, when brightest seen,
seems light to lack;
Who progress in it makes, seems
drawing back;
Its even way is like a
rugged track.
Its highest virtue from the vale
doth rise;
Its greatest beauty seems to
offend the eyes;
And he has most whose lot
the least supplies.
Its firmest virtue seems but
poor and low;
Its solid truth seems change to
undergo;
Its largest square doth yet no
corner show
A vessel great, it is the
slowest made;
Loud is its sound, but never
word it said;
A semblance great, the shadow of
a shade.'
The Dao is hidden, and has
no name; but it is the
Dao which is skilful at
imparting (to all things what
they need) and making them
complete.
42 道德经:
道生一,一生二,二生三,三生万物。万物负阴而抱阳,冲气以为和。人之所恶,唯孤、寡、不谷,而王公以为称。故物或损之而益,或益之而损。人之所教,我亦教之。强梁者不得其死,吾将以为教父。
Dao De Jing: (The
transformations of the Dao)
The Dao produced One; One
produced Two; Two produced
Three; Three produced All
things. All things leave behind
them the Obscurity (out of
which they have come), and
go forward to embrace the
Brightness (into which they have
emerged), while they are
harmonised by the Breath of
Vacancy.
What men dislike is to be
orphans, to have little virtue,
to be as carriages without
naves; and yet these are
the designations which kings and
princes use for themselves. So
it is that some things
are increased by being
diminished, and others are
diminished by being increased.
What other men (thus) teach, I
also teach. The violent and
strong do not die their
natural death. I will make
this the basis of my
teaching.
43 道德经:
天下之至柔,驰骋天下之至坚。无有入无间,吾是以知无为之有益。不言之教,无为之益,天下希及之。
Dao De Jing: (The universal
use (of the action in
weakness of the Dao))
The softest thing in the world
dashes against and overcomes the
hardest; that which has no
(substantial) existence enters where
there is no crevice. I
know hereby what advantage
belongs to doing nothing (with
a purpose).
There are few in the world
who attain to the teaching
without words, and the advantage
arising from non-action.
44 道德经:
名与身孰亲?身与货孰多?得与亡孰病?是故甚爱必大费;多藏必厚亡。知足不辱,知止不殆,可以长久。
Dao De Jing: (Cautions)
Or fame or life,
Which do you hold more
dear?
Or life or wealth,
To which would you adhere?
Keep life and lose those other
things;
Keep them and lose your life:
- which brings
Sorrow and pain more near?
Thus we may see,
Who cleaves to fame
Rejects what is more great;
Who loves large stores
Gives up the richer state.
Who is content
Needs fear no shame.
Who knows to stop
Incurs no blame.
From danger free
Long live shall he.
45 道德经:
大成若缺,其用不弊。大盈若冲,其用不穷。大直若屈,大巧若拙,大辩若讷。躁胜寒静胜热。清静为天下正。
Dao De Jing: (Great or
overflowing virtue)
Who thinks his great achievements
poor
Shall find his vigour long
endure.
Of greatest fulness, deemed a
void,
Exhaustion never shall stem the
tide.
Do thou what's straight still
crooked deem;
Thy greatest art still stupid
seem,
And eloquence a stammering
scream.
Constant action overcomes cold; being
still overcomes heat. Purity and
stillness give the correct law
to all under heaven.
46 道德经:
天下有道,却走马以粪。天下无道,戎马生于郊。祸莫大于不知足;咎莫大于欲得。故知足之足,常足矣。
Dao De Jing: (The moderating
of desire or ambition)
When the Dao prevails in the
world, they send back their
swift horses to (draw) the
dung- carts. When the Dao
is disregarded in the world,
the war-horses breed in the
border lands.
There is no guilt greater than
to sanction ambition; no
calamity greater than to be
discontented with one's lot; no
fault greater than the wish
to be getting. Therefore the
sufficiency of contentment is an
enduring and unchanging
sufficiency.
47 道德经:
不出户知天下;不闚牖见天道。其出弥远,其知弥少。是以圣人不行而知,不见而名,不为而成。
Dao De Jing: (Surveying what
is far-off)
Without going outside his door,
one understands (all that takes
place) under the sky; without
looking out from his window,
one sees the Dao of
Heaven. The farther that one
goes out (from himself), the
less he knows.
Therefore the sages got their
knowledge without travelling; gave
their (right) names to things
without seeing them; and
accomplished their ends without
any purpose of doing so.
48 道德经:
为学日益,为道日损。损之又损,以至于无为。无为而无不为。取天下常以无事,及其有事,不足以取天下。
Dao De Jing: (Forgetting
knowledge)
He who devotes himself to
learning (seeks) from day to
day to increase (his knowledge);
he who devotes himself to
the Dao (seeks) from day
to day to diminish (his
doing).
He diminishes it and again
diminishes it, till he arrives
at doing nothing (on purpose).
Having arrived at this point
of non-action, there is nothing
which he does not do.
He who gets as his own
all under heaven does so
by giving himself no trouble
(with that end). If one
take trouble (with that end),
he is not equal to
getting as his own all
under heaven.
49 道德经:
圣人无常心,以百姓心为心。善者,吾善之;不善者,吾亦善之;德善。信者,吾信之;不信者,吾亦信之;德信。圣人在天下,歙歙为天下浑其心,百姓皆注其耳目,圣人皆孩之。
Dao De Jing: (The quality
of indulgence)
The sage has no invariable mind
of his own; he makes the
mind of the people his
mind.
To those who are good (to
me), I am good; and to
those who are not good
(to me), I am also good;
- and thus (all) get to
be good. To those who are
sincere (with me), I am
sincere; and to those who
are not sincere (with me),
I am also sincere; - and
thus (all) get to be
sincere.
The sage has in the world
an appearance of indecision, and
keeps his mind in a state
of indifference to all. The
people all keep their eyes
and ears directed to him,
and he deals with them
all as his children.
50道德经:
出生入死。生之徒,十有三;死之徒,十有三;人之生,动之死地,十有三。夫何故?以其生,生之厚。盖闻善摄生者,陆行不遇兕虎,入军不被甲兵;兕无所投其角,虎无所措其爪,兵无所容其刃。夫何故?以其无死地。
Dao De Jing: (The value
set on life)
Men come forth and live; they
enter (again) and die.
Of every ten three are ministers
of life (to themselves); and
three are ministers of
death.
There are also three in every
ten whose aim is to live,
but whose movements tend to
the land (or place) of
death. And for what reason?
Because of their excessive
endeavours to perpetuate life.
But I have heard that he
who is skilful in managing
the life entrusted to him
for a time travels on the
land without having to shun
rhinoceros or tiger, and enters
a host without having to
avoid buff coat or sharp
weapon. The rhinoceros finds no
place in him into which
to thrust its horn, nor
the tiger a place in
which to fix its claws,
nor the weapon a place to
admit its point. And for
what reason? Because there is
in him no place of
death.
51 道德经:
道生之,德畜之,物形之,势成之。是以万物莫不尊道而贵德。道之尊,德之贵,夫莫之命常自然。故道生之,德畜之;长之育之;亭之毒之;养之覆之。生而不有,为而不恃,长而不宰,是谓玄德。
Dao De Jing: (The operation
(of the Dao) in nourishing
things)
All things are produced by the
Dao, and nourished by its
outflowing operation. They receive
their forms according to the
nature of each, and are
completed according to the
circumstances of their condition.
Therefore all things without
exception honour the Dao, and
exalt its outflowing operation.
This honouring of the Dao and
exalting of its operation is
not the result of any
ordination, but always a
spontaneous tribute.
Thus it is that the Dao
produces (all things), nourishes
them, brings them to their
full growth, nurses them,
completes them, matures them,
maintains them, and overspreads
them.
It produces them and makes no
claim to the possession of
them; it carries them through
their processes and does not
vaunt its ability in doing
so; it brings them to
maturity and exercises no
control over them; - this
is called its mysterious
operation.
52 道德经:
天下有始,以为天下母。既知其母,复知其子,既知其子,复守其母,没其不殆。塞其兑,闭其门,终身不勤。开其兑,济其事,终身不救。见小曰明,守柔曰强。用其光,复归其明,无遗身殃;是为习常。
Dao De Jing: (Returning to
the source)
(The Dao) which originated all
under the sky is to be
considered as the mother of
them all.
When the mother is found, we
know what her children should
be. When one knows that
he is his mother's child,
and proceeds to guard (the
qualities of) the mother that
belong to him, to the end
of his life he will be
free from all peril.
Let him keep his mouth closed,
and shut up the portals
(of his nostrils), and all
his life he will be
exempt from laborious exertion.
Let him keep his mouth
open, and (spend his breath)
in the promotion of his
affairs, and all his life
there will be no safety
for him.
The perception of what is small
is (the secret of clear-
sightedness; the guarding of
what is soft and tender
is (the secret of)
strength.
Who uses well his light,
Reverting to its (source so)
bright,
Will from his body ward all
blight,
And hides the unchanging from
men's sight.
53 道德经:
使我介然有知,行于大道,唯施是畏。大道甚夷,而民好径。朝甚除,田甚芜,仓甚虚;服文彩,带利剑,厌饮食,财货有馀;是谓盗夸。非道也哉!
Dao De Jing: (Increase of
evidence)
If I were suddenly to become
known, and (put into a
position to) conduct (a
government) according to the
Great Dao, what I should
be most afraid of would
be a boastful display.
The great Dao (or way) is
very level and easy; but
people love the by-ways.
Their court(-yards and buildings) shall
be well kept, but their
fields shall be ill-cultivated,
and their granaries very empty.
They shall wear elegant and
ornamented robes, carry a sharp
sword at their girdle, pamper
themselves in eating and
drinking, and have a
superabundance of property and
wealth; - such (princes) may
be called robbers and boasters.
This is contrary to the
Dao surely!
54 道德经:
善建不拔,善抱者不脱,子孙以祭祀不辍。修之于身,其德乃真;修之于家,其德乃馀;修之于乡,其德乃长;修之于国,其德乃丰;修之于天下,其德乃普。故以身观身,以家观家,以乡观乡,以国观国,以天下观天下。吾何以知天下然哉?以此。
Dao De Jing: (The cultivation
(of the Dao), and the
observation (of its effects))
What (Dao's) skilful planter
plants
Can never be uptorn;
What his skilful arms enfold,
From him can never be
borne.
Sons shall bring in lengthening
line,
Sacrifices to his shrine.
Dao when nursed within one's
self,
His vigour will make true;
And where the family it
rules
What riches will accrue!
The neighbourhood where it
prevails
In thriving will abound;
And when 'tis seen throughout
the state,
Good fortune will be found.
Employ it the kingdom o'er,
And men thrive all around.
In this way the effect will
be seen in the person, by
the observation of different
cases; in the family; in
the neighbourhood; in the state;
and in the kingdom.
How do I know that this
effect is sure to hold
thus all under the sky?
By this (method of
observation).
55 道德经:
含德之厚,比于赤子。蜂虿虺蛇不螫,猛兽不据,攫鸟不搏。骨弱筋柔而握固。未知牝牡之合而全作,精之至也。终日号而不嗄,和之至也。知和曰常,知常曰明,益生曰祥。心使气曰强。物壮则老,谓之不道,不道早已。
Dao De Jing: (The mysterious
charm)
He who has in himself abundantly
the attributes (of the Dao)
is like an infant. Poisonous
insects will not sting him;
fierce beasts will not seize
him; birds of prey will
not strike him.
(The infant's) bones are weak
and its sinews soft, but
yet its grasp is firm. It
knows not yet the union
of male and female, and
yet its virile member may
be excited; - showing the
perfection of its physical
essence. All day long it
will cry without its throat
becoming hoarse; - showing the
harmony (in its constitution).
To him by whom this harmony
is known,
(The secret of) the unchanging
(Dao) is shown,
And in the knowledge wisdom
finds its throne.
All life-increasing arts to evil
turn;
Where the mind makes the vital
breath to burn,
(False) is the strength, (and
o'er it we should mourn.)
When things have become strong,
they (then) become old, which
may be said to be
contrary to the Dao. Whatever
is contrary to the Dao
soon ends.
56 道德经:
知者不言,言者不知。塞其兑,闭其门,挫其锐,解其分,和其光,同其尘,是谓玄同。故不可得而亲,不可得而郏徊豢傻枚豢傻枚Γ徊豢傻枚螅豢傻枚9饰煜鹿蟆?nbsp;
Dao De Jing: (The mysterious
excellence)
He who knows (the Dao) does
not (care to) speak (about
it); he who is (ever
ready to) speak about it
does not know it.
He (who knows it) will keep
his mouth shut and close
the portals (of his nostrils).
He will blunt his sharp
points and unravel the
complications of things; he will
attemper his brightness, and
bring himself into agreement
with the obscurity (of others).
This is called 'the Mysterious
Agreement.'
(Such an one) cannot be treated
familiarly or distantly; he is
beyond all consideration of
profit or injury; of nobility
or meanness: - he is the
noblest man under heaven.
57 道德经:
以正治国,以奇用兵,以无事取天下。吾何以知其然哉?以此:天下多忌讳,而民弥贫;民多利器,国家滋昏;人多伎巧,奇物滋起;法令滋彰,盗贼多有。故圣人云:我无为,而民自化;我好静,而民自正;我无事,而民自富;我无欲,而民自朴。
Dao De Jing: (The genuine
influence)
A state may be ruled by
(measures of) correction; weapons
of war may be used with
crafty dexterity; (but) the
kingdom is made one's own
(only) by freedom from action
and purpose.
How do I know that it is
so? By these facts: - In
the kingdom the multiplication
of prohibitive enactments increases
the poverty of the people;
the more implements to add
to their profit that the
people have, the greater
disorder is there in the
state and clan; the more
acts of crafty dexterity that
men possess, the more do
strange contrivances appear; the
more display there is of
legislation, the more thieves
and robbers there are.
Therefore a sage has said, 'I
will do nothing (of purpose),
and the people will be
transformed of themselves; I
will be fond of keeping
still, and the people will
of themselves become correct. I
will take no trouble about
it, and the people will
of themselves become rich; I
will manifest no ambition, and
the people will of themselves
attain to the primitive
simplicity.'
58 道德经:
其政闷闷,其民淳淳;其政察察,其民缺缺。祸兮福之所倚,福兮祸之所伏。孰知其极?其无正。正复为奇,善复为妖。人之迷,其日固久。是以圣人方而不割,廉而不刿,直而不肆,光而不耀。
Dao De Jing: (Transformation
according to circumstances)
The government that seems the
most unwise,
Oft goodness to the people best
supplies;
That which is meddling, touching
everything,
Will work but ill, and
disappointment bring.
Misery! - happiness is to be
found by its side! Happiness!
- misery lurks beneath it!
Who knows what either will
come to in the end?
Shall we then dispense with
correction? The (method of)
correction shall by a turn
become distortion, and the good
in it shall by a turn
become evil. The delusion of
the people (on this point)
has indeed subsisted for a
long time.
Therefore the sage is (like) a
square which cuts no one
(with its angles); (like) a
corner which injures no one
(with its sharpness). He is
straightforward, but allows himself
no license; he is bright,
but does not dazzle.
59 道德经:
治人事天莫若啬。夫唯啬,是谓早服;早服谓之重积德;重积德则无不克;无不克则莫知其极;莫知其极,可以有国;有国之母,可以长久;是谓深根固柢,长生久视之道。
Dao De Jing: (Guarding the
Dao)
For regulating the human (in our
constitution) and rendering the
(proper) service to the
heavenly, there is nothing like
moderation.
It is only by this moderation
that there is effected an
early return (to man's normal
state). That early return is
what I call the repeated
accumulation of the attributes
(of the Dao). With that
repeated accumulation of those
attributes, there comes the
subjugation (of every obstacle
to such return). Of this
subjugation we know not what
shall be the limit; and
when one knows not what
the limit shall be, he
may be the ruler of a
state.
He who possesses the mother of
the state may continue long.
His case is like that (of
the plant) of which we
say that its roots are
deep and its flower stalks
firm: - this is the way
to secure that its enduring
life shall long be seen.
60 道德经:
治大国若烹小鲜。以道莅天下,其鬼不神;非其鬼不神,其神不伤人;非其神不伤人,圣人亦不伤人。夫两不相伤,故德交归焉。
Dao De Jing: (Occupying the
throne)
Governing a great state is like
cooking small fish.
Let the kingdom be governed
according to the Dao, and
the manes of the departed
will not manifest their
spiritual energy. It is not
that those manes have not
that spiritual energy, but it
will not be employed to
hurt men. It is not that
it could not hurt men,
but neither does the ruling
sage hurt them.
When these two do not
injuriously affect each other,
their good influences converge
in the virtue (of the
Dao).
61 道德经:
大国者下流,天下之交,天下之牝。牝常以静胜牡,以静为下。故大国以下小国,则取小国;小国以下大国,则取大国。故或下以取,或下而取。大国不过欲兼畜人,小国不过欲入事人。夫两者各得其所欲,大者宜为下。
Dao De Jing: (The attribute
of humility)
What makes a great state is
its being (like) a low-lying,
down- flowing (stream); - it
becomes the centre to which
tend (all the small states)
under heaven.
(To illustrate from) the case of
all females: - the female
always overcomes the male by
her stillness. Stillness may be
considered (a sort of)
abasement.
Thus it is that a great
state, by condescending to small
states, gains them for itself;
and that small states, by
abasing themselves to a great
state, win it over to
them. In the one case the
abasement leads to gaining
adherents, in the other case
to procuring favour.
The great state only wishes to
unite men together and nourish
them; a small state only
wishes to be received by,
and to serve, the other.
Each gets what it desires,
but the great state must
learn to abase itself.
62 道德经:
道者万物之奥。善人之宝,不善人之所保。美言可以市,尊行可以加人。人之不善,何弃之有?故立天子,置三公,虽有拱璧以先驷马,不如坐进此道。古之所以贵此道者何?不曰:以求得,有罪以免耶?故为天下贵。
Dao De Jing: (Practising the
Dao)
Dao has of all things the
most honoured place.
No treasures give good men so
rich a grace;
Bad men it guards, and doth
their ill efface.
(Its) admirable words can purchase
honour; (its) admirable deeds
can raise their performer above
others. Even men who are
not good are not abandoned
by it.
Therefore when the sovereign occupies
his place as the Son of
Heaven, and he has appointed
his three ducal ministers,
though (a prince) were to
send in a round symbol-of-rank
large enough to fill both
the hands, and that as
the precursor of the team
of horses (in the court-yard),
such an offering would not
be equal to (a lesson of)
this Dao, which one might
present on his knees.
Why was it that the ancients
prized this Dao so much?
Was it not because it
could be got by seeking
for it, and the guilty
could escape (from the stain
of their guilt) by it?
This is the reason why
all under heaven consider it
the most valuable thing.
63 道德经:
为无为,事无事,味无味。大小多少,报怨以德。图难于其易,为大于其细;天下难事,必作于易,天下大事,必作于细。是以圣人终不为大,故能成其大。夫轻诺必寡信,多易必多难。是以圣人犹难之,故终无难矣。
Dao De Jing: (Thinking in
the beginning)
(It is the way of the
Dao) to act without (thinking
of) acting; to conduct affairs
without (feeling the) trouble of
them; to taste without
discerning any flavour; to
consider what is small as
great, and a few as many;
and to recompense injury with
kindness.
(The master of it) anticipates
things that are difficult while
they are easy, and does
things that would become great
while they are small. All
difficult things in the world
are sure to arise from a
previous state in which they
were easy, and all great
things from one in which
they were small. Therefore the
sage, while he never does
what is great, is able on
that account to accomplish the
greatest things.
He who lightly promises is sure
to keep but little faith;
he who is continually thinking
things easy is sure to
find them difficult. Therefore
the sage sees difficulty even
in what seems easy, and
so never has any
difficulties.
64 道德经:
其安易持,其未兆易谋。其脆易泮,其微易散。为之于未有,治之于未乱。合抱之木,生于毫末;九层之台,起于累土;千里之行,始于足下。为者败之,执者失之。是以圣人无为故无败;无执故无失。民之从事,常于几成而败之。慎终如始,则无败事,是以圣人欲不欲,不贵难得之货;学不学,复腥酥愿ㄍ蛭镏匀唬桓椅?nbsp;
Dao De Jing: (Guarding the
minute)
That which is at rest is
easily kept hold of; before
a thing has given indications
of its presence, it is
easy to take measures against
it; that which is brittle
is easily broken; that which
is very small is easily
dispersed. Action should be
taken before a thing has
made its appearance; order
should be secured before
disorder has begun.
The tree which fills the arms
grew from the tiniest sprout;
the tower of nine storeys
rose from a (small) heap
of earth; the journey of
a thousand li commenced with
a single step.
He who acts (with an ulterior
purpose) does harm; he who
takes hold of a thing (in
the same way) loses his
hold. The sage does not
act (so), and therefore does
no harm; he does not lay
hold (so), and therefore does
not lose his bold. (But)
people in their conduct of
affairs are constantly ruining
them when they are on the
eve of success. If they
were careful at the end,
as (they should be) at
the beginning, they would not
so ruin them.
Therefore the sage desires what
(other men) do not desire,
and does not prize things
difficult to get; he learns
what (other men) do not
learn, and turns back to
what the multitude of men
have passed by. Thus he
helps the natural development of
all things, and does not
dare to act (with an
ulterior purpose of his
own).
65 道德经:
古之善为道者,非以明民,将以愚之。民之难治,以其智多。故以智治国,国之贼;不以智治国,国之福。知此两者亦???式。常知???式,是谓玄德。玄德深矣,远矣,与物反矣,然后乃至大顺。
Dao De Jing: (Pure, unmixed
excellence)
The ancients who showed their
skill in practising the Dao
did so, not to enlighten
the people, but rather to
make them simple and
ignorant.
The difficulty in governing the
people arises from their having
much knowledge. He who (tries
to) govern a state by his
wisdom is a scourge to
it; while he who does not
(try to) do so is a
blessing.
He who knows these two things
finds in them also his
model and rule. Ability to
know this model and rule
constitutes what we call the
mysterious excellence (of a
governor). Deep and far-reaching
is such mysterious excellence,
showing indeed its possessor as
opposite to others, but leading
them to a great conformity
to him.
66 道德经:
江海所以能为百谷王者,以其善下之,故能为百谷王。是以圣人欲上民,必以言下之;欲先民,必以身后之。是以圣人处上而民不重,处前而民不害。是以天下乐推而不厌。以其不争,故天下莫能与之争。
Dao De Jing: (Putting one's
self last)
That whereby the rivers and seas
are able to receive the
homage and tribute of all
the valley streams, is their
skill in being lower than
they; - it is thus that
they are the kings of
them all. So it is that
the sage (ruler), wishing to
be above men, puts himself
by his words below them,
and, wishing to be before
them, places his person behind
them.
In this way though he has
his place above them, men
do not feel his weight,
nor though he has his
place before them, do they
feel it an injury to
them.
Therefore all in the world
delight to exalt him and
do not weary of him.
Because he does not strive,
no one finds it possible
to strive with him.
67 道德经:
天下皆谓我道大,似不肖。夫唯大,故似不肖。若肖久矣。其细也夫!我有三宝,持而保之。一曰慈,二曰俭,三曰不敢为天下先。慈故能勇;俭故能广;不敢为天下先,故能成器长。今舍慈且勇;舍俭且广;舍后且先;死矣!夫慈以战则胜,以守则固。天将救之,以慈卫之。
Dao De Jing: (Three precious
things)
All the world says that, while
my Dao is great, it yet
appears to be inferior (to
other systems of teaching).
Now it is just its greatness
that makes it seem to be
inferior. If it were like
any other (system), for long
would its smallness have been
known!
But I have three precious things
which I prize and hold
fast. The first is gentleness;
the second is economy; and
the third is shrinking from
taking precedence of others.
With that gentleness I can be
bold; with that economy I
can be liberal; shrinking from
taking precedence of others, I
can become a vessel of
the highest honour. Now-a-days
they give up gentleness and
are all for being bold;
economy, and are all for
being liberal; the hindmost
place, and seek only to
be foremost; - (of all
which the end is) death.
Gentleness is sure to be
victorious even in battle, and
firmly to maintain its ground.
Heaven will save its possessor,
by his (very) gentleness
protecting him.
68 道德经:
善为士者,不武;善战者,不怒;善胜敌者,不与;善用人者,为之下。是谓不争之德,是谓用人之力,是谓配天古之极。
Dao De Jing: (Matching
heaven)
He who in (Dao's) wars has
skill
Assumes no martial port;
He who fights with most good
will
To rage makes no resort.
He who vanquishes yet still
Keeps from his foes apart;
He whose hests men most
fulfil
Yet humbly plies his art.
Thus we say, 'He never
contends,
And therein is his might.'
Thus we say, 'Men's wills he
bends,
That they with him unite.'
Thus we say, 'Like Heaven's his
ends,
No sage of old more
bright.'
69 道德经:
用兵有言:吾不敢为主,而为客;不敢进寸,而退尺。是谓行无行;攘无臂;扔无敌;执无兵。祸莫大于轻敌,轻敌几丧吾宝。故抗兵相加,哀者胜矣。
Dao De Jing: (The use of
the mysterious (Dao))
A master of the art of
war has said, 'I do not
dare to be the host (to
commence the war); I prefer
to be the guest (to act
on the defensive). I do
not dare to advance an
inch; I prefer to retire
a foot.' This is called
marshalling the ranks where
there are no ranks; baring
the arms (to fight) where
there are no arms to
bare; grasping the weapon where
there is no weapon to
grasp; advancing against the
enemy where there is no
enemy.
There is no calamity greater
than lightly engaging in war.
To do that is near losing
(the gentleness) which is so
precious. Thus it is that
when opposing weapons are
(actually) crossed, he who
deplores (the situation)
conquers.
70 道德经:
吾言甚易知,甚易行。天下莫能知,莫能行。言有宗,事有君。夫唯无知,是以不我知。知我者希,则我者贵。是以圣人被褐怀玉。
Dao De Jing: (The difficulty
of being (rightly) known)
My words are very easy to
know, and very easy to
practise; but there is no
one in the world who is
able to know and able to
practise them.
There is an originating and
all-comprehending (principle) in my
words, and an authoritative law
for the things (which I
enforce). It is because they
do not know these, that
men do not know me.
They who know me are few,
and I am on that account
(the more) to be prized.
It is thus that the sage
wears (a poor garb of)
hair cloth, while he carries
his (signet of) jade in
his bosom.
71 道德经: 知不知上;不知知病。夫唯病病,是以不病。圣人不病,以其病病,是以不病。
Dao De Jing: (The disease
of knowing)
To know and yet (think) we
do not know is the
highest (attainment); not to
know (and yet think) we
do know is a disease.
It is simply by being pained
at (the thought of) having
this disease that we are
preserved from it. The sage
has not the disease. He
knows the pain that would
be inseparable from it, and
therefore he does not have
it.
72 道德经:
民不畏威,则大威至。无狎其所居,无厌其所生。夫唯不厌,是以不厌。是以圣人自知不自见;自爱不自贵。故去彼取此。
Dao De Jing: (Loving one's
self)
When the people do not fear
what they ought to fear,
that which is their great
dread will come on them.
Let them not thoughtlessly indulge
themselves in their ordinary
life; let them not act as
if weary of what that
life depends on.
It is by avoiding such
indulgence that such weariness
does not arise.
Therefore the sage knows (these
things) of himself, but does
not parade (his knowledge);
loves, but does not (appear
to set a) value on,
himself. And thus he puts
the latter alternative away and
makes choice of the
former.
73 道德经:
勇于敢则杀,勇于不敢则活。此两者,或利或害。天之所恶,孰知其故?是以圣人犹难之。天之道,不争而善胜,不言而善应,不召而自来,繟然而善谋。天网恢恢,鄱皇А?nbsp;
Dao De Jing: (Allowing men
to take their course)
He whose boldness appears in his
daring (to do wrong, in
defiance of the laws) is
put to death; he whose
boldness appears in his not
daring (to do so) lives
on. Of these two cases
the one appears to be
advantageous, and the other to
be injurious. But
When Heaven's anger smites a
man,
Who the cause shall truly
scan?
On this account the sage feels
a difficulty (as to what
to do in the former
case).
It is the way of Heaven
not to strive, and yet it
skilfully overcomes; not to
speak, and yet it is
skilful in (obtaining a reply;
does not call, and yet
men come to it of
themselves. Its demonstrations are
quiet, and yet its plans
are skilful and effective. The
meshes of the net of
Heaven are large; far apart,
but letting nothing escape.
74 道德经:
民不畏死,奈何以死惧之?若使民常畏死,而为奇者,吾得执而杀之,孰敢?常有司杀者杀。夫司杀者,是大匠斫,夫代大匠斫者,希有不伤其手矣。
Dao De Jing: (Restraining
delusion)
The people do not fear death;
to what purpose is it to
(try to) frighten them with
death? If the people were
always in awe of death,
and I could always seize
those who do wrong, and
put them to death, who
would dare to do wrong?
There is always One who presides
over the infliction death. He
who would inflict death in
the room of him who so
presides over it may be
described as hewing wood instead
of a great carpenter. Seldom
is it that he who
undertakes the hewing, instead
of the great carpenter, does
not cut his own hands!
75 道德经:
民之饥,以其上食税之多,是以饥。民之难治,以其上之有为,是以难治。民之轻死,以其求生之厚,是以轻死。夫唯无以生为者,是贤于贵生。
Dao De Jing: (How greediness
injures)
The people suffer from famine
because of the multitude of
taxes consumed by their
superiors. It is through this
that they suffer famine.
The people are difficult to
govern because of the
(excessive) agency of their
superiors (in governing them).
It is through this that
they are difficult to
govern.
The people make light of dying
because of the greatness of
their labours in seeking for
the means of living. It
is this which makes them
think light of dying. Thus
it is that to leave the
subject of living altogether out
of view is better than to
set a high value on
it.
76道德经:
人之生也柔弱,其死也坚强。万物草木之生也柔脆,其死也枯槁。故坚强者死之徒,柔弱者生之徒。是以兵强则不胜,木强则共。强大处下,柔弱处上。
Dao De Jing: (A warning
against (trusting in) strength)
Man at his birth is supple
and weak; at his death,
firm and strong. (So it
is with) all things. Trees
and plants, in their early
growth, are soft and brittle;
at their death, dry and
withered.
Thus it is that firmness and
strength are the concomitants of
death; softness and weakness,
the concomitants of life.
Hence he who (relies on) the
strength of his forces does
not conquer; and a tree
which is strong will fill
the out-stretched arms, (and
thereby invites the feller.)
Therefore the place of what is
firm and strong is below,
and that of what is soft
and weak is above.
77 道德经:
天之道,其犹张弓与?高者抑之,下者举之;有馀者损之,不足者补之。天之道,损有馀而补不足。人之道,则不然,损不足以奉有馀。孰能有馀以奉天下,唯有道者。是以圣人为而不恃,功成而不处,其不欲见贤。
Dao De Jing: (The way of
heaven)
May not the Way (or Dao)
of Heaven be compared to
the (method of) bending a
bow? The (part of the
bow) which was high is
brought low, and what was
low is raised up. (So
Heaven) diminishes where there
is superabundance, and supplements
where there is deficiency.
It is the Way of Heaven
to diminish superabundance, and
to supplement deficiency. It is
not so with the way of
man. He takes away from
those who have not enough
to add to his own
superabundance.
Who can take his own
superabundance and therewith serve
all under heaven? Only he
who is in possession of
the Dao!
Therefore the (ruling) sage acts
without claiming the results as
his; he achieves his merit
and does not rest (arrogantly)
in it: - he does not
wish to display his
superiority.
78 道德经:
天下莫柔弱于水,而攻坚强者莫之能胜,其无以易之。弱之胜强,柔之胜刚,天下莫不知,莫能行。是以圣人云:受国之垢,是谓社稷主;受国不祥,是谓天下王。正言若反。
Dao De Jing: (Things to
be believed)
There is nothing in the world
more soft and weak than
water, and yet for attacking
things that are firm and
strong there is nothing that
can take precedence of it;
- for there is nothing
(so effectual) for which it
can be changed.
Every one in the world knows
that the soft overcomes the
hard, and the weak the
strong, but no one is
able to carry it out in
practice.
Therefore a sage has said,
'He who accepts his state's
reproach,
Is hailed therefore its altars'
lord;
To him who bears men's direful
woes
They all the name of King
accord.'
Words that are strictly true
seem to be paradoxical.
79 道德经:
和大怨,必有馀怨;安可以为善?是以圣人执左契,而不责于人。有德司契,无德司彻。天道无亲,常与善人。
Dao De Jing: (Adherence to
bond or covenant)
When a reconciliation is effected
(between two parties) after a
great animosity, there is sure
to be a grudge remaining
(in the mind of the one
who was wrong). And how
can this be beneficial (to
the other)?
Therefore (to guard against this),
the sage keeps the left-hand
portion of the record of
the engagement, and does not
insist on the (speedy)
fulfilment of it by the
other party. (So), he who
has the attributes (of the
Dao) regards (only) the
conditions of the engagement,
while he who has not
those attributes regards only
the conditions favourable to
himself.
In the Way of Heaven, there
is no partiality of love;
it is always on the side
of the good man.
80 道德经:
小国寡民。使有什伯之器而不用;使民重死而不远徙。虽有舟舆,无所乘之,虽有甲兵,无所陈之。使民复结绳而用之,甘其食,美其服,安其居,乐其俗。邻国相望,鸡犬之声相闻,民至老死,不相往来。
Dao De Jing: (Standing
alone)
In a little state with a
small population, I would so
order it, that, though there
were individuals with the
abilities of ten or a
hundred men, there should be
no employment of them; I
would make the people, while
looking on death as a
grievous thing, yet not remove
elsewhere (to avoid it).
Though they had boats and
carriages, they should have no
occasion to ride in them;
though they had buff coats
and sharp weapons, they should
have no occasion to don
or use them.
I would make the people return
to the use of knotted
cords (instead of the written
characters).
They should think their (coarse)
food sweet; their (plain)
clothes beautiful; their (poor)
dwellings places of rest; and
their common (simple) ways
sources of enjoyment.
There should be a neighbouring
state within sight, and the
voices of the fowls and
dogs should be heard all
the way from it to us,
but I would make the
people to old age, even
to death, not have any
intercourse with it.
81 道德经:
信言不美,美言不信。善者不辩,辩者不善。知者不博,博者不知。圣人不积,既以为人己愈有,既以与人己愈多。天之道,利而不害;圣人之道,为而不争。
Dao De Jing: (The manifestation
of simplicity)
Sincere words are not fine; fine
words are not sincere. Those
who are skilled (in the
Dao) do not dispute (about
it); the disputatious are not
skilled in it. Those who
know (the Dao) are not
extensively learned; the extensively
learned do not know it.
The sage does not accumulate
(for himself). The more that
he expends for others, the
more does he possess of
his own; the more that he
gives to others, the more
does he have himself.
With all the sharpness of the
Way of Heaven, it injures
not; with all the doing
in the way of the sage
he does not strive.