79
  （To　requite　injuries　with　good　deeds。）
  To　allay　the　main　discontent；
  But　only　in　a　manner　that　will　certainly　produce　further　discontents　can　hardly　be　called　successful。
  Therefore　the　Sage　behaves　like　the　holder　of　the　left…hand　tally；
  Who　stays　where　he　is　and　does　not　go　round　making　claims　on　people。
  For　he　who　has　the　損ower？of　Tao　is　the　Grand　Almoner；
  He　who　has　not　the　損ower？is　the　Grand　Perquisitor。
  揑t　is　Heaven's　way；　without　distinction　of　persons；
  To　keep　the　good　perpetually　supplied。？br》
  80
  Given　a　small　country　with　few　inhabitants；
  He　could　bring　it　about　that　through
  There　should　be　among　the　people　contrivances　requiring　ten　times；
  A　hundred　times　less　labour；　they　would　not　use　them。
  He　could　bring　it　about　that　the　people　would　be　ready
  To　lay　down　their　lives　and　lay　them　down　again　in　defence　of　their　homes；
  Tather　than　emigrate。
  There　might　still　be　boats　and　carriage；
  But　no　one　would　go　in　them；
  There　might　still　be　weapons　of　war；
  But　no　one　would　drill　with　them。
  He　could　bring　it　about　that
  揟he　people　should　have　no　use　for　any　from　of　writing　save　knotted　ropes；
  Should　be　contented　with　their　food；　pleased　with　their　clothing；
  Satisfied　with　their　homes；
  Should　take　pleasure　in　their　rustic　tasks。
  The　next　place　might　be　so　near　at　hand
  That　one　could　one　could　hear　the　cocks　crowing　in　it；　the　dogs　barking；
  But　the　people　would　grow　old　and　die　without　ever　having　been　there？
  81
  True　words　are　not　fine…sounding；
  Fine…sounding　words　are　not　true。
  The　good　man　does　not　prove　by　argument；
  The　he　who　proves　by　argument　is　not　good。
  True　wisdom　is　different　from　much　learning；
  Much　learning　means　little　wisdom。
  The　Sage　has　no　need　to　hoard；
  When　his　own　last　scrap　has　been　used　up　on　behalf　of　others；
  Lo；　he　has　more　than　before！
  When　his　own　last　scrap　has　been　used　up　in　giving　to　other；
  Lo；　his　stock　is　even　greater　than　before！
  For　heaven's　way　is　to　sharpen　without　cutting；
  And　the　Sage's　way　is　to　act　without　striving。
  English_Walker_TTK
  Das　Tao　Te　King　von　Lao　Tse
  English　by
  Brian　Browne　Walker；　1996
  1
  Tao　is　beyond　words　and　beyond　understanding。　Words　may　be　used　to　speak　of　it；　but　they　cannot　contain　it。
  Tao　existed　before　words　and　names；　before　heaven　and　earth；　before　the　ten　thousand　things。　It　is　the　unlimited　father　and　mother　of　all　limited　things。
  Therefore；　to　see　beyond　all　boundaries　to　the　subtle　heart　of　things；　dispense　with　names；　with　concepts；　with　expectations　and　ambitions　and　differences。
  Tao　and　its　many　manifestations　arise　from　the　same　source：
  subtle　wonder　within　mysterious　darkness。　This　is　the　beginning　of　all　understanding。
  2
  When　people　find　one　thing　beautiful；　another　consequently　becomes　ugly。
  When　one　man　is　held　up　as　good；　another　is　judged　deficient。
  Similarly；　being　and　non…being　balance　each　other；　difficult　and　easy　define　each　other；　long　and　short　illustrate　each　other；
  high　and　low　rest　upon　each　other；　voice　and　song　meld　into　harmony；　what　is　to　come　follows　upon　what　has　been。
  The　wise　person　acts　without　effort　and　teaches　by　quiet　example。
  He　accepts　things　as　they　come；　creates　without　possessing；　nourishes　without　demanding；　accomplishes　without　taking　credit。
  Because　he　constantly　forgets　himself；　he　is　never　forgotten。
  3
  When　praise　is　lavished　upon　the　famous；　the　people　contend　and　compete　with　one　another。
  When　exotic　goods　are　traded　and　treasured；　the　compulsion　to　steal　is　felt。
  When　desires　are　constantly　stimulated；　people　become　disturbed　and　confused。
  Therefore；　the　wise　person　sets　an　example　by　emptying　her　mind；　opening　her　heart；　relaxing　her　ambitions；　relinquishing　her　desires；　cultivating　her　character。
  having　conquered　her　own　cunning　and　cravings；　she　can't　be　manipulated　by　anyone。
  Do　by　not…doing。　Act　with　non…action。　Allow　order　to　arise　of　itself。
  4
  Tao　is　a　whirling　emptiness；　yet　when　used　it　cannot　be　exhausted。
  Out　of　this　mysterious　well　flows　everything　in　existence。
  Blunting　sharp　edges；　Untangling　knots；　Softening　the　glare；　It　evolves　us　all　and　makes　the　whole　world　one。
  Something　is　there；　hidden　and　deep！
  But　I　do　not　know　whose　child　it　is　…　It　came　even　before　God。
  5
  Heaven　and　Earth　are　not　sentimental；　they　regard　all　things　as　dispensable。
  The　sage　isn't　sentimental；　either；　He　views　all　forms　as　ephemeral　and　transitional。
  Tao　is　like　a　bellows：　empty　but　inexhaustible。　The　more　you　move　it　the　more　it　makes。
  Too　much　talk　about　it　evaporates　your　understanding；　though。　Simply　stay　at　the　center　of　the　circle。
  6
  The　heart　of　Tao　is　immortal；　the　mysterious　fertile　mother　of　us　all；
  of　heaven　and　earth；　of　every　thing　and　not…thing。
  Invisible　yet　ever　present；　you　can　use　it　forever　without　using　it　up。
  7
  Heaven　is　eternal；　earth　everlasting。
  They　endure　this　way　because　they　do　not　live　for　themselves。
  In　the　same　way；　the　wise　person　puts　himself　last；　and　thereby　finds　himself　first；
  Holds　himself　outside；　and　thereby　remains　at　the　center；
  Abandons　himself；　and　is　thereby　fulfilled。
  8
  The　highest　good　is　like　water　which　benefits　all　things　and　contends　with　none。　it　flows　in　low　places　that　others　disdain　and　thus　it　is　close　to　the　Tao。
  In　living；　choose　your　ground　well。　In　thought；　stay　deep　in　the　heart。　In　relationships；　be　generous。　In　speaking；　hold　to　the　truth。
  In　leadership；　be　organized。　In　work；　do　your　best。　In　action；　be　timely。
  If　you　compete　with　no　one；　no　one　can　compete　with　you。
  9
  Filling　to　fullness　is　not　as　good　as　stopping　at　the　right　moment。
  Oversharpening　a　blade　causes　its　edge　to　be　lost。
  Line　your　home　with　treasures　and　you　won't　be　able　to　defend　it。
  Amass　possessions；　establish　positions；　display　your　pride：　Soon　enough　disaster　drives　you　to　your　knees。
  This　is　the　way　of　heaven：　do　your　work；　then　quietly　step　back。
  10
  Can　you　marry　your　spirit　and　body　to　the　oneness　and　never　depart　from　it？
  Can　you　ride　your　breath　until　your　entire　being　is　as　supple　as　the　body　of　an　infant？
  Can　you　cleanse　your　inner　vision　until　you　see　heaven　in　every　direction？
  Can　you　love　the　people　and　govern　them　without　conniving　and　manipulating？
  Can　you　bear　heaven's　children　in　all　that　you　do　and　are？
  Can　you　give　the　wisdom　of　your　heart　precedence　over　the　learning　of　your　head？
  Giving　birth；　nourishing　life；　shaping　things　without　possessing　them；　serving　without　expectation　of　reward；　leading　without　dominating：　These　are　the　profound　virtues　of　nature；　and　of　nature's　best　things。
  11
  Thirty　spokes　meet　at　a　hollowed…out　hub；　the　wheel　won't　work　without　its　hole。
  A　vessel　is　moulded　from　solid　clay；　its　inner　emptiness　makes　it　useful。
  To　make　a　room；　you　have　to　cut　doors　and　windows；　without　openings；　a　place　isn't　livable。
  To　make　use　of　what　is　here；　you　must　make　use　of　what　is　not。
  12
  The　five　colours　blind　the　eye。　The　five　tones　deafen　the　ear。　The　five　flavours　overwhelm　the　palate。
  Fancy　things　get　in　the　way　of　one's　growth。　Racing　here　and　there；　hunting　for　this　and　that　…　Good　ways　to　madden　your　mind；　that's　all。
  Relinquish　what　is　without。　Cultivate　what　is　within。　Live　for　your　center；　not　your　senses。
  13
  Favour　and　disgrace　are　equally　problematic。　Hope　and　fear　are　phantoms　of　the　body。
  What　does　it　mean　the　〃favour　and　disgrace　are　equally　problematic〃？　Favour　lifts　you　up；　disgrace　knocks　you　down。　Either　one　depends　on　the　opinions　of　others　and　causes　you　to　depart　from　your　center。
  What　does　it　mean　that　〃hope　and　fear　are　phantoms　of　the　body〃？　When　you　regard　your　body　as　your　self；　hope　and　fear　have　real　power　over　you。　If　you　abandon　the　notion　of　body　as　self；　hope　and　fear　cannot　touch　you。
  Know　the　universe　as　your　self；　and　you　can　live　absolutely　anywhere　in　comfort。　Love　the　world　as　your　self；　and　you'll　be　able　to　care　for　it　properly。
  14
  Looked　at　but　not　seen；　listened　to　but　not　heard；　grasped　for　but　not　held；　formless；　soundless；　intangible：
  the　Tao　resists　analysis　and　defies　comprehension。
  Its　rising　is　not　about　light；　its　setting　not　a　matter　of　darkness。　Unnameable；　unending；　emerging　continually；　and　continually　pouring　back　into　nothingness；
  It　is　formless　form；　unseeable　image；　elusive；　evasive　unimaginable　mystery。　Confront　it；　and　you　won't　see　its　face。　Follow　it　and　you　can't　find　an　end。
  Perceive　its　ancient　subtle　heart；　however；　and　you　become　master　of　the　moment。　Know　what　came　before　time；　and　the　beginning　of　wisdom　is　yours。
  15
  A　sage　is　subtle；　intuitive；　penetrating；　profound。　His　depths　are　mysterious　and　unfathomable。
  The　best　one　can　do　is　describe　his　appearance：　The　sag