take　pleasure　in　being　with　their　families；
  spend　weekends　working　in　their　gardens；
  delight　in　the　doings　of　the　neighborhood。
  And　even　though　the　next　country　is　so　close
  that　people　can　hear　its　roosters　crowing　and　its　dogs　barking；
  they　are　content　to　die　of　old　age
  without　ever　having　gone　to　see　it。
  81
  True　words　aren't　eloquent；
  eloquent　words　aren't　true。
  Wise　men　don't　need　to　prove　their　point；
  men　who　need　to　prove　their　point　aren't　wise。
  The　Master　has　no　possessions。
  The　more　he　does　for　others；
  the　happier　he　is。
  The　more　he　gives　to　others；
  the　wealthier　he　is。
  The　Tao　nourishes　by　not　forcing。
  By　not　dominating；　the　Master　leads。
  English_Moran_TTK
  Das　Tao　Te　King　von　Lao　Tse
  English　version　by
  Patrick　E。　Moran
  1
  A　way　（dao）　that　one　can　be　directed　along　is　not　the　constant　Dao。　A　namethat　can　be　given　is　not　a　constant　name。　Nameless　is　the　beginning　ofHeaven　and　Earth。　Named　is　the　mother　of　the　myriad　creatures。
  So；　It　is　always　by　desirelessness　that　one　sees　the　hidden　（noumenal）aspect；　and　always　by　being　in　a　state　of　having　desires　that　one　observesthe　outer　（phenomenal）　aspect。　These　two　＇aspects　of　all　reality＇　emergetogether　and　are　differently　named。　Together；　they　are　called　the　darkand　mysterious。　The　most　dark　and　mysterious　of　the　dark　and　mysteriousIs　the　portal　of　the　multitudinous　wonders。
  2
  Everyone　in　the　world　knows　the　beautiful　to　be　beautiful。　Thus　there　isugliness。　They　all　know　good　to　be　good。　Thus　there　is　evil。　For　beingand　non…being　are　mutually　produced。　Difficult　and　easy　are　mutually　complemented。Long　and　short　are　mutually　formed。　High　and　low　are　mutually　opposed。Music　and　voice　mutually　harmonize。　Fore　and　aft　follow　each　other。　Forthis　reason；　the　Sage　concerns　himself　only　with　affairs　that　involve　noactive　doing；　and　carries　forth　a　wordless　teaching。　The　myriad　creaturesarise　and　he　does　not　deny　any　of　them。　They　are　produced；　yet　he　doesnot　seek　to　possess　them。　He　acts　and　yet　does　not　claim　compensation　forso　doing。　When　he　brings　meritorious　work　to　completion　he　takes　no　creditfor　it。　For　only　by　not　taking　credit　for　these　accomplishments　are　thefruits　of　his　activities　kept　safe。
  3
  〃Do　not　elevate　the　worthies；　so　that　the　people　shall　not　contend。　Donot　value　scarce　commodities；　so　that　the　people　shall　not　become　robbers。Do　not　display　desirable　things；　so　that　minds　shall　not　become　disordered。''For　this　reason；　the　governance　of　the　Sage　lies　in　voiding　the　minds　ofthe　people；　filling　their　bellies；　weakening　their　ambitions；　and　strengtheningtheir　bones。　The　Sage　always　causes　the　people　to　have　no　knowledge　andno　desires　and　causes　the　ones　who　do　know　not　to　dare　to　act。　Because＇the　Sage＇　engages　in　non…activity；　there　is　nothing　he　fails　to　bringto　order。
  4
  The　Dao　is　void；　yet　when　it　is　put　to　use　it　would　seem　that　it　cannotbe　filled　up。　Abyss…like；　it　seems　to　be　the　ancestor　of　the　myriad　creatures。It　dulls　their　sharpness；　releases　their　tangles；　harmonizes　their　brightness；and　unites　their　dust。　It　is　deep…entering；　as　though　existing。　I　do　notknow　whose　progeny　it　is；　but　it　images　the　state　before　God。
  5
  Heaven　and　Earth　are　not　benevolent。　They　take　the　myriad　creatures　tobe　straw　dogs。　The　Sage　is　not　benevolent。　He　takes　the　common　people　tobe　straw　dogs。
  The　space　between　Heaven　and　Earth　is　like　a　bellows。　It　is　void　andyet　does　not　collapse。　The　more　it　moves　the　more　it　sends　out。
  An　excess　of　talk　＇aimed　at　fathoming　the　universe＇　is　fated　to　becomeimpoverished。　It　is　better　to　hold　＇it＇　inside。
  6
  The　valley　spirit　does　not　die。　It　is　called　the　dark　and　mysterious　female。The　portal　of　the　dark　and　mysterious　female　is　called　the　root　of　heavenand　earth。　It　has　a　kind　of　wispy　continuity　as　though　existing。　Use　itwithout　exertion。
  7
  The　highest　good　is　like　water。　Water　is　good　at　benefitting　the　myriadcreatures　and　does　not　contend。　It　takes　its　position　in　the　places　peoplehate；　and　so　it　approximates　to　the　Dao。
  The　site　makes　a　residence　good。　Depth　makes　a　mind　good。　Benevolencemakes　giving　good。　Trustworthiness　makes　words　good。　Being　able　to　putthings　in　order　makes　government　good。　Being　able　to　make　actual　accomplishmentsmake　activities　good。　Timeliness　makes　movements　good。
  Now　only　by　not　contending　can　there　be　the　absence　of　animosity。
  8
  Kapitel　nicht　vorhanden　/　chapter　not　available
  9
  To　grasp　at　things　and　seek　to　fulfill　them　is　not　as　good　as　letting　thembe　finished。＇The　blade＇　that　is　tested　and　sharpened　cannot　be　long　protected。If　gold　and　jade　fill　one's　halls　no　one　can　guard　them　successfully。　Beingproud　because　of　wealth　and　noble　status　calls　down　its　own　retribution。The　Way　of　Heaven　is　that　when　one's　accomplishments　have　been　made　one　should　retire　from　the　scene。
  10
  Nurture　the　dark　soul　and　embrace　unity。　Can　you　do　so　without　fail？　Focusthe　lifebreath；　making　it　as　supple　as　possible。　Can　you　in　so　doing　belike　an　infant？　In　cleaning　up　the　dark　and　mysterious　vision；　can　yoube　without　defect？　In　loving　the　people　and　ordering　the　kingdom；　can　yoube　without　forceful　activity。　In　the　opening　and　closing　of　the　portalof　heaven；　can　you　play　the　female　part？　Although　your　awareness　reachesto　all　points；　can　you　yet　remain　without　the　use　of　knowledge？
  Give　birth　to　them；　nurture　them。　And　yet　while　giving　birth　to　themdo　not　possess　them　and　while　acting　（i。e。；　nurturing）　claim　no　credit。Though　senior　to　them　do　not　rule　over　them。　This　is　called　the　dark　andmysterious　virtue。
  11
  Thirty　spokes　surround　one　hub。　At　that　point　of　void　lies　the　utilityof　the　cart。　Mold　clay　to　make　pots。　In　the　void　lies　the　functionalityof　the　vessel。　Fashion　doors　and　windows　in　order　to　make　a　dwelling。　Inthe　void　lies　the　functionality　of　the　house。　So　what　is　substantial　＇ineach　case＇　provides　the　configuration　and　what　is　void　provides　the　functionality。
  12
  The　five　colors　blind　people's　eyes。　The　five　notes　of　the　scale　deafenpeople's　ears。　The　five　flavors　make　people's　palates　go　stale。　Gallopingabout　and　hunting　deranges　people's　minds。　Scarce　commodities　make　peopledo　injurious　deeds。　For　this　reason　the　Sage　acts　for　the　belly　and　notfor　the　eyes。　So　he　gets　rid　of　that　and　takes　this。
  13
  Favor　and　disgrace　＇both＇　produce　alarm。　A　source　of　great　travail　is　one'sself。　What　is　meant　by　saying　〃Favor　and　disgrace　produce　alarm？''　Hewho　is　favored　is　someone's　inferior。　Receiving　favor　and　losing　it　bothcause　alarm。　That　is　what　is　meant　by　saying　that　〃Favor　and　disgraceproduce　alarm。''　What　is　meant　by　saying　〃A　source　of　great　travail　isone's　self？''　The　reason　I　＇can＇　have　a　great　travail　is　that　I　have　aself。　Should　I　no　longer　have　a　self　then　what　travail　could　there　be？So　those　who　take　their　selves　as　more　valuable　than　ruling　the　world　maybe　given　custody　of　the　world。　Those　who　love　themselves　more　than　rulingthe　world　may　be　entrusted　with　the　world。
  14
  What　eludes　observation　is　called　yi　（level）。　What　escapes　hearing　is　calledxi　（silent）。　What　is　impalpable　is　called　wei　（minute）。　These　three　cannotbe　further　pursued；　so　I　meld　them　together　as　One。　Its　upper　part　is　notbright。　Its　lower　part　is　not　dark。　Unending；　it　cannot　be　adequately　namedand　so　returns　to　the　status　of　nothingness。　This　is　called　the　formlessform；　the　image　without　a　thing　to　be　imaged。　This　is　called　impalpableand　intangible。　Going　out　to　meet　it　we　do　not　see　its　head。　Followingit　we　do　not　see　its　end。　Grasp　the　Dao　of　antiquity　to　manage　what　ishere　today。　Be　able　to　know　the　ancient　beginnings。＇The　chain　from　antiquityto　the　present＇　is　called　the　Thread　running　through　the　Dao。
  15
  Those　of　old　who　were　good　at　being　knight…scholars　were　subtle；　were　possessedof　ineffable　efficacy；　and　were　in　dark　and　mysterious　confluence；　so　profoundthat　they　could　not　be　perceived。　Only　because　they　cannot　be　perceiveddo　I　give　them　a　forced　description。　Cautious　as　though　crossing　a　＇frozen＇stream　in　wintertime；　apprehensive　as　though　in　fear　of　people　on　all　foursides；　deferential　like　a　guest。　Riven　like　ice　on　the　verge　of　melting。Wholesome　like　the　Uncarved　Block。　Accepting　like　a　valley。　Turbid　as　thoughhaving　been　muddled。　Who　can　be　muddled　in　order　to　gradually　become　clear？Who　can　be　tranquil　in　order　that　activity　will　gradually　stir？　Those　whoare　protected　in　this　Dao　will　not　desire　fullness。　For　only　by　not　beingfull　is　one　able　to　be　tattered　and　yet　newly　complete。
  16
  Promote　the　heights　of　vacuity。　Preserve　the　wholesomeness　of　tranquility。The　myriad　creatures　arise　side　by　side　and　＇prepared　by　having　maintainedvacuity　and　tranquility＇　I　observe　their　recapitulations。　For　these　creaturesin　profusion　each　return　once　more　to　their　root。　To　return　to　the　rootis　called　tranquility；　which　in　turn　is　called　submitting　again　to　Heaven'smandate。　Returning　to　Heaven's　mandate　is　called　being　constant。　Knowingthe　constant　is　called　enlighten