Being frugal；
It is possible to be generous。
No longer needing preeminence；
One becomes a leader。
Forsaking these；
Endeavoring to be courageous without compassion；
Endeavoring to possess without renunciation；
Endeavoring to lead all without following behind；
Is to surely court destruction。
Through gentleness； compassion； mercy and nurturing love；
The Sage wins in attack；
Is impregnable in defense。
Truly； heaven arms with love those whom it would not see destroyed。
68
NON … CONTENTION
The greatest warrior shuns the violence of war。
The greatest fighter shuns the display of anger。
The greatest conqueror shuns overt competition。
The greatest leader is humble with his people。
Thus is the power of non…contention。
Thus is the capacity to utilize people well。
Thus is the ancient ultimate unity with heaven。
69
THE COMPASSIONATE WARRIOR
Among great warriors； it is spoken：
It is more propitious to be the defender than the aggressor。
Better to retreat a foot than advance an inch。
This is known as：
Marching without the appearance of moving。
Preparing for conflict without the appearance of arming。
Arming without the appearance of weapons。
Confronting the foe without the appearance of attack。
To engage in war lightly …
To underestimate the foe；
These are catastrophes as severe as the loss of one's treasures …
Those abilities for compassion； renunciation
and the rejection of preeminence。
Thus； when a battle is joined；
Victory is achieved by the compassionate warrior；
Who delights not in conflict。
70
YOU KNOW ME NOT
Being very easy to comprehend；
These teachings are simple to practice。
Yet； few are they who will release ego
sufficiently to achieve understanding；
let alone the ability to practice。
These teachings have their source in nature；
Their master is the Tao。
Not comprehending this；
People find great difficulty in understanding the Sage。
So； with few people really understanding him；
He is most highly valued。
Thus the Sage；
Tho' presenting a poor appearance； to the world；
Yet carries the riches of nature embedded in his core。
71
STRENGTH IN KNOWLEDGE
Knowing you know not； is strength …
A high attainment。
Not knowing； yet thinking you know； is sickness …
A dire defect。
Only with knowledge of this sickness as a sickness；
Can the defect be removed。
The Sage has no sickness … no defect。
Recognizing sickness as sickness； defect as defect；
He is free from these curses。
72
RECOGNITION OF ATTRIBUTES
Be not irate should others fail to be awed by your attributes。
Having true importance； circumstances will ultimately bring proper recognition。
Imprison them not …
Harass and oppress them not；
Treating them compassionately；
You； in turn； will be so treated。
Thus the Sage；
Knowing his own power；
Does not overtly display it。
Loving himself；
Does not exalt himself。
Rejecting external sensuousness；
He accepts the powers within his being。
73
COURAGE
That courage which is manifest by bravado and foolhardiness；
Leads to disaster and death。
That which is not so manifest；
Leads to life。
Be tween these two；
One benefits … one does not。
Even the Sage has difficulty in knowing why one of these brings destruction from above。
It is the way of nature …
… Not to compete； yet to achieve victory。
… Not to ask； yet to obtain an answer。
… Not to summon； yet be supplied all needs。
… Not to overtly plan； yet to achieve results。
Truly … the net of nature is cast far and wide。
Tho' its mesh be coarse；
Yet nothing escapes。
74
PENALTY OF DEATH
Should the people have no fear of death；
Threatening them with such a penalty；
Is the essence of futility。
Should the people fear death；
Be there any among them who would commit a crime；
Knowing death to be the penalty ？
Who then； is comfortable as the executioner ？
Is not nature the wisest judge regarding timeliness for one to die ？
To otherwise kill in defiance of nature
is to be as an apprentice carpenter performing complicated hewing for his master。
In performing a task unsuited to his natural level of skill；
He is certain to be injured。
75
VALUE OF LIVING LIFE
People are starved of body；
When the government taxes to excess。
People are starved of spirit and become unruly；
When the government； by over…control； interferes with the natural rights of mankind。
Being so starved of both body and spirit；
Their leaders demanding so much of living life；
Little remains upon which to live。
People know better than to place too much value upon life。
76
THE HARD AND THE SOFT
At birth； as in life； mankind is gentle； soft and weak。
In death； he becomes hard and rigid。
All creatures and All Things …
While alive and growing are soft and supple。
When dead； become withered； tough； brittle and dry。
Hard； rigid； withered； tough； brittle and dry；
Being companions of death …
Gentle； soft； weak and supple are
Companions of life。
Thus …
The hard weapon will be broken。
The hardwood tree will be cut down。
The hard and the mighty are cast down。
The soft and the weak are exalted。
77
EQUILIBRIUM
As a bow is bent； so bends the way of nature。
That at the top；
Bent downward toward the center。
That at the bottom；
Bent upward toward the center。
The string …
If too long； is shortened；
If too short； is lengthened。
The Tao of nature strives for equilibrium。
That which is abundant is reduced。
That which is deficient is supplemented。
Mankind； on the other hand； will often …
Further reduce what is deficient；
Supplement that which is abundant。
The Sage alone …
Having abundance； offers it to the world。
Works quietly without arousing attention。
Acts without claiming recognition or reward。
Has no desire to reveal his superiority。
78
THE CHARACTER OF WATER
Flowing water …
Being softer and more yielding than all else under the heavens；
Has no equal in attacking and prevailing against that which is hard and resistant。
The supple； weak and yielding； thereby；
Conquer the rigid； strong and resistant。
While this is known by all mankind；
Few are they who can flow in this manner。
Thus the Sage …
By accepting the disgrace and humiliation of the community；
Is called a leader in the community。
By receiving the burdens and misfortunes of the nation；
Becomes a ruler of the nation。
Surely these words； while paradoxical； are true。
79
OF OBLIGATIONS AND CLAIMS
At the conclusion of a serious dispute；
It is rare that some resentment not remain behind。
To restore harmony； the Sage；
Keeping to the letter of the agreement with regard to his own obligations；
Never compels the other to fulfill his responsibilities。
Having Te； one would attend to obligations。
Without Te； one would press claims。
While it is the nature of Tao to be free of partiality；
Holding to the essence of the Tao；
The truly virtuous find the Tao abiding within。
80
THE IDEAL STATE
A small； intimate； sparsely populated community；
Was thought by its ruler to be an ideal easily controlled state。
Labor saving devices and life's necessities；
Existing in abundance；
Were not used or needed。
Being satisfied with the quality of life；
There was no need to search for better things。
Having boats and carriages；
There appeared no use for them。
Having arms and weapons；
There was no occasion for their employment。
Being simple；
The commerce of the community required
no greater means than knotted cords
to ease the accounting of transactions。
Thus the people were：
… Satisfied with their food。
… Content with their clothing。
… Comfortable with their shelter。
… Happy with their customs and traditions。
Even though neighboring communities
were within sight and earshot of cocks and barking dogs；
They would leave each other in peace while they would grow old and die。
81
IN CONCLUSION
Truthful words are rarely pleasant and fine sounding。
Pleasant and fine sounding words are rarely truthful。
The good need not prove by argument。
To prove by argument is rarely good。
True wisdom rarely springs from learning。
Learning rarely is indicative of true wisdom。
The sage need never hoard。
Doing more for others； The more he gains。
Giving more to others； The greater is his abundance。
The Tao of heaven benefits without injury or harm。
The Tao of the Sage accomplishes without striving or contention。
？Copyright 1997 Alan B。 Taplow
First published in 1982 … ISBN 0…941758…01…X
All Rights Reserved … This complete heading must appear on all copies
Permission given to freely copy and distribute as long as not for commercial gain。
If sold for profit； permission must be obtained from：
Alan B。 Taplow
844 John Fowler Road
Plainfield； VT 05667
English_Trottier_TTK
Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse
Chinese … English by
John Louis Albert Trottier； 1994
1
TAO （THE LAWS OF THE UNIVERSE） can be talked about；
but not the Eternal Tao （Laws of the Universe）。
Names can be named；
but not the Eternal Name。
（You cannot name the unknown。）
As the origin of heaven…and…earth；
it is not describable：
As 〃the Mother〃 of all things；
it is describable。
（You cannot describe the unknown origin。）
As it is always hidden；
We should look at its Inner