Tao Te Ching - translated by James Legge
- The Tao that can be trodden is not the enduring and unchanging Tao. The name that can be named is not the enduring and unchanging name.
- (Conceived of as) having no name, it is the Originator of heaven and earth; (conceived of as) having a name, it is the Mother of all things.
- Always without desire we must be found, If its deep mystery we would sound; But if desire always within us be, Its outer fringe is all that we shall see.
- Under these two aspects, it is really the same; but as development takes place, it receives the different names. Together we call them the Mystery. Where the Mystery is the deepest is the gate of all that is subtle and wonderful.
- (We look) and it is not to be seen; it is blended with the formless form. It is vague and elusively obscure. We meet it and do not see its head; we follow it and do not see its back.
- Who can (make) the muddy water (clear)? Let it be still, and it will gradually become clear. Who can secure the condition of rest? Let movement go on, and the condition of rest will gradually arise.
- They who preserve this method of the Tao do not wish to be full (of themselves). It is through their not being full of themselves that they can afford to seem worn and not appear new and complete.
- Those who stand on tiptoe do not stand firm; those who rush ahead do not go far. He who tries to shine dims his own light. He who defines himself can't know who he really is. He who has power over others can't empower himself. He who clings to his work will create nothing that endures.
- It is better to leave a vessel unfilled, than to attempt to carry it when it is full. If you keep feeling a point that has been sharpened, the point cannot long preserve its sharpness.
- The skilful traveller leaves no traces of his wheels or footsteps; the skilful speaker says nothing that can be found fault with or blamed; the skilful reckoner uses no tallies; the skilful closer needs no bolts or bars, while to open what he has shut will be impossible; the skilful binder uses no strings or knots, while to unloose what he has bound will be impossible. In the same way the sage is always skilful at saving men, and so he does not cast away any man; he is always skilful at saving things, and so he does not cast away anything. This is called 'Hiding the light of his procedure.'
- The thirty spokes unite in the one nave; but it is on the empty space (for the axle), that the use of the wheel depends. Clay is fashioned into vessels; but it is on their empty hollowness, that their use depends. The door and windows are cut out (from the walls) to form an apartment; but it is on the empty space (within), that its use depends. Therefore, what has a (positive) existence serves for profitable adaptation, and what has not that for (actual) usefulness.
- The five colours blind the eye. The five tones deafen the ear. The five flavours cloy the palate. Racing and hunting madden the mind. Precious things lead one astray. Therefore the sage is guided by what he feels and not by what he sees. He lets go of that and chooses this.
- Favour and disgrace are like fear. Honour and great trouble are like the body. What is it meant by "Favour and disgrace are like fear?" Favour when it is bestowed on a subject, serves to humble him. It is an easy thing to keep a state standing when the subjects are afraid. What is meant by "Honour and great trouble are like the body?" The reason I have great trouble is that I have the body. When I no longer have the body, what trouble have I?
- We look at it, and we do not see it, and we name it 'the Equable.' We listen to it, and we do not hear it, and we name it 'the Inaudible.' We try to grasp it, and do not get hold of it, and we name it 'the Subtle.' With these three qualities, it cannot be made the subject of description; and hence we blend them together and obtain The One.
- The ancient Masters were profound and subtle. Their wisdom was unfathomable. There is no way to describe it; all we can describe is their appearance.
- We look at it, and we do not see it; and we name it 'the Tenuous.' We listen to it, and we do not hear it; and we name it 'the Rare.' We try to grasp it, and do not get hold of it; and we name it 'the Subtle.' With these three qualities, it cannot be made the subject of description; and hence we blend them together and obtain The One.
- When the great Tao is lost, benevolence and righteousness arise. When wisdom and intelligence are born, the great pretense begins. When there is no peace within the family, filial piety and devotion arise. When the country is confused and in chaos, officials and ministers become loyal.
- When the great Tao fades away, There are humaneness and justice. When intelligence and wit appear, There are great appearances. When there is no peace, There are artificial laws. When the country is confused, There are officials and ministers.
- Banish learning, discard your worries, and people will benefit a hundredfold. Banish benevolence, discard duty, and people will return to treating their families with compassion. Banish cleverness, discard profit, and there won’t be thieves and robbers. These three, although admirable, are not enough to prevent chaos. Therefore, let this be taught:
- Banish sagacity, discard knowledge, and the people will benefit a hundredfold. Banish humanity, discard righteousness, and the people will return to familial love and compassion. Banish cunning, discard gain, and there won’t be thieves and robbers. As for these three: elevate the unworthy, and you’ll have more thieves.
- 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.
- The greatest virtue is to follow Tao and Tao alone. The Tao is elusive and intangible. Oh, it is intangible and elusive, and yet within is image. Oh, it is elusive and intangible, and yet within is form. Oh, it is dim and dark, and yet within is essence. This essence is very real, and therein lies faith. From the very beginning until now its name has never been forgotten.
- Yield and remain whole Bend and remain straight Be low and become filled Be worn out and become renewed Have little and receive Have much and be confused Therefore the sages hold to the one as an example for the world Without flaunting themselves - and so are seen clearly Without presuming themselves - and so are distinguished Without praising themselves - and so have merit Without boasting about themselves - and so are lasting Because they do not contend, the world cannot contend with them What the ancients called "the one who yields and remains whole" Were they speaking empty words? Sincerity becoming whole, and returning to oneself.
- Express yourself completely, then keep quiet. Be like the forces of nature: when it blows, there is only wind; when it rains, there is only rain; when the clouds pass, the sun shines through.
- The rain will not last forever. If it did not stop, then we would be lost. The wind will not last forever. If it did not stop, then we would be blown away. That is why the sages always remain centered and hold onto the One. And the whole world cannot, by interfering, change them; will not, by attacking, defeat them. Not because the sages are great, therefore they do not leave. If they were to leave, they would not be great.
- He who stands on tiptoe is not steady. He who strides cannot maintain the pace. He who makes a show is not enlightened. He who is self-righteous is not respected. He who boasts achieves nothing. He who brags will not endure. According to followers of the Tao, "These are like excessive food and useless actions. They are needless and therefore do not bring happiness."
- Something mysteriously formed, Born before heaven and earth. In the silence and the void, Standing alone and unchanging, Ever present and in motion. Perhaps it is the mother of ten thousand things. I do not know its name Call it Tao. For lack of a better word, I call it great. Being great, it flows It flows far away Having gone far, it returns Therefore, "Tao is great Heaven is great Earth is great King is great" Thus, the king is one of the great four in the universe Man follows the ways of the earth Earth follows the ways of heaven Heaven follows the ways of Tao Tao follows the ways of nature
- Heavy is the root of light; still is the master of restless. Thus the Sage, traveling all day, does not lose sight of his baggage. Though there are beautiful things to be seen, he remains unattached and calm.
- A good walker leaves no tracks; A good speaker makes no slips; A good reckoner needs no tally. A good door needs no lock, Yet no one can open it. Good binding requires no knots, Yet no one can loosen it. Therefore the sage takes care of all men And abandons no one. He takes care of all things And abandons nothing. This is called "following the light."
- To know that you do not know is the highest. To pretend to know when you do not know is a disease. Only when one recognizes this disease as a disease can one be free from the disease. The sage is free from disease. Because he recognizes the disease as disease, he is free from the disease.
- Those who wish to take the world and control it I see that they cannot succeed The world is a sacred instrument One cannot control it The one who controls it will fail The one who grasps it will lose Because all things: Either lead or follow Either blow hot or cold Either have strength or weakness Either have ownership or take by force Therefore the sage: Eliminates extremes Eliminates excess Eliminates arrogance
- Whoever uses Tao to advise the ruler will oppose war. Not through the power of arms is the world ruled. Failure to recognize this is to fail utterly.
- A strong military, we say, is powerful It is the sort of power that we view with dread It is because it is against Tao Such methods tend to rebound Where armies are stationed Thorny bushes grow After a great war, bad years invariably follow The good administrator achieves his purpose and stops He dare not rely on military power He achieves his purpose but does not glory in it He achieves his purpose but does not boast in it He achieves his purpose but does not feel superior He achieves his purpose but does not stand alone He achieves his purpose but is not harmed by it He achieves his purpose but does not dominate When things reach their prime, they become old That is not Tao What is not Tao grows old and withers away
- Tao, eternally nameless It returns to simplicity Though it is small, the whole world cannot subdue it If rulers could abide by it, all things would transform themselves Transformed, they return to submissiveness Having submitted, they would be free from desire Being free from desire, they would be at peace The empire would be at peace
- Those who understand others are intelligent Those who understand themselves are enlightened Those who overcome others have strength Those who overcome themselves are powerful Those who know contentment are wealthy Those who strive hard are resolved Those who do not lose their place endure Those who die but do not perish have longevity
- The Tao flows left to right, and in reverse, according to where it is needed. It accomplishes everything and has no name. It clothes and feeds all things, but does not claim lordship over them, and can thus be named with anything.
- To hold with the whole world as one's self is called "The Eternal Power." To be called the eternal power is called "Deepest Virtue." To be called the deepest virtue is called "Mysterious Power." Mysterious power is profound, infinite, unfathomable.
- The great Tao flows everywhere, both to the left and to the right. It loves and nourishes all things, but does not lord it over them. And when merits have been achieved, it does not claim them for its own.
- He who desires to shrink it, surely must first expand it. He who desires to weaken it, surely must first strengthen it. He who desires to discard it, surely must first promote it. He who desires to seize it, surely must first give it. This is called subtle illumination.
- Tao is the great Creator. Heaven is the great producer. Earth is the great foundation. The ruler is of the people. Thus, the person is of humility. The self is of quiet. Therefore, the Sage journeys all day without ever leaving his luggage-cart. In the midst of the ten thousand things, the Sage dwells as though his goal has been attained. The people all keep their eyes and ears directed toward him, and he never tires of them. The Sage gives his all to everyone, and his surplus is limitless.
- The truly good man does nothing, yet leaves nothing undone. The ordinary man is always doing things, yet many more are left to be done.
- The gentlest thing in the world overcomes the hardest thing in the world. That which has no substance enters where there is no space. This shows the value of non-action. Teaching without words, performing without actions: that is the Master's way.
- In ancient times those who followed the way were well versed in the ways of the way. They were deep, subtle, and profound. Their wisdom was unfathomable. Since they were unfathomable, they can only be traced through what is superficial.
- The wise student hears of the Tao and practices it diligently. The average student hears of the Tao and gives it thought now and again. The foolish student hears of the Tao and laughs out loud. If there were no laughter, it would not be the Tao.
- The Tao produces one, one produces two, two produce three, and three produce the ten thousand things. The ten thousand things carry yin and embrace yang. They achieve harmony by combining these forces.
- The softest things in the world overcome the hardest things in the world. Through this I know the advantage of taking no action.
- Which is more important to you, your name or your body? Which is more valuable, your body or your possessions? Which is worse, gain or loss?
- A great perfection seems incomplete, but it does not decay. A great fullness seems empty, but it cannot be exhausted. A great straightness seems crooked. A great skill seems unrefined. A great eloquence seems inarticulate.
- When Tao prevails in the world, horses fertilize fields with their droppings; when Tao is lacking in the world, war horses are bred even in the border lands.
- Without stepping outside his door, one can know the world. Without looking out his window, one can see the Tao of heaven. The farther one goes, the less one knows. Therefore the Sage knows without having to go, names without having to see, accomplishes without having to act.
- The follower of knowledge learns as much as he can every day; the follower of Tao forgets as much as he can every day.
- The sage has no fixed mind; he makes the mind of the people his mind.
- Those who are on tiptoes cannot stand; those who stride cannot walk.
- The Tao gives birth to One. One gives birth to Two. Two gives birth to Three. Three gives birth to all things.
- Those who know don't talk. Those who talk don't know.
- The great way is easy, yet people prefer the side paths. Be aware when things are out of balance. Stay centered within the Tao.
- Whoever is planted in the Tao will not be rooted up. Whoever embraces the Tao will not slip away. Her name will be held in honor from generation to generation.
- The one who is filled with virtue is like a newborn baby. Wasps and serpents will not bite him; wild beasts will not pounce upon him.
- Those who know do not say. Those who say do not know. The sage does not store up. The more he does for others, the more he has. The more he gives to others, the greater his abundance.
- The more prohibitions you have, the less virtuous people will be. The more weapons you have, the less secure people will be. The more subsidies you have, the less self-reliant people will be.
- The more you are motivated by Love, The more Fearless & Free your action will be.
- For governing a country well there is nothing better than moderation. The mark of a moderate man is freedom from his own ideas.
- Governing a large country is like frying a small fish. You spoil it with too much poking. Center your country in the Tao and evil will have no power.
- A great nation is like a great man: When he makes a mistake, he realizes it. Having realized it, he admits it. Having admitted it, he corrects it. He considers those who point out his faults as his most benevolent teachers. He thinks of his enemy as the shadow that he himself casts. If a nation is centered in the Tao, if it nourishes its own people and doesn't meddle in the affairs of others,
- The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. Honors can be bought with fine words, respect can be won with good deeds; but the Tao is beyond all value, and no one can achieve it.
- Act without doing; work without effort. Think of the small as large and the few as many. Confront the difficult while it is still easy; accomplish the great task by a series of small acts.
- What is at rest is easily managed, what is not yet manifest is easily prevented. The brittle is easily shattered, the small is easily scattered. Deal with it before it happens. Set things in order before there is confusion.
- The ancient Masters didn't try to educate the people, but kindly taught them to not-know. When they think that they know the answers, people are difficult to guide. When they know that they don't know, people can find their own way.
- The reason why rivers and seas can be lords over a hundred mountain streams is that they know how to keep below them. That is why they can be lords over all the mountain streams. Thus, the Sage, wishing to be above the people, must speak to them from below. Thus, the ruler, wishing to be before the people, must stand behind them. Thus, the Sage, wishing to be above the people, must put himself last. Yet, though his words may condemn him, no one in the world can sense anything amiss.
- Everyone says my Tao is great, but seems to be worthless. It is like a river, it flows in and out of low places. All things long for it, but it does not oppose them. It fulfills their needs, but it does not exploit them. It humbles itself to that which is below it, that it might become the lord of all things.
- The best soldier does not march ahead. The best fighter does not display his prowess. The greatest conqueror is he who overcomes his enemies without a blow. The greatest master is he who wins a competition without a contest.
- The generals have a saying, "Rather than make the first move it is better to wait and see. Rather than advance an inch, it is better to retreat a yard."
- The sage never contends, yet he wins. He responds to no one, yet all come to him. He is seen by none, yet all look up to him. He is not rash, yet excels in accomplishment. He does not show himself, yet is clearly seen in the light of day. He is no advocate, yet his words carry far. He does not look for gain, yet everything is accomplished.
- When people lack a sense of awe, there will be disaster. Do not intrude upon their homes. Do not harass them at work. If you do not interfere, they will not weary of you.
- The courageous do not appear brave; the skilled do not appear learned; the kind do not appear charitable.
- Those who are learned do not argue; those who argue are not learned. Of the sage it is said, "He does not hold on to anything." People take a look and laugh at themselves.
- The people starve because those above them eat too much tax-grain. That is why they starve. The people are difficult to guide because those above them are too clever. That is why they are difficult to guide. The people make light of dying because the rulers demand too much in taxes. That is why they make light of dying. Having little to live on, one knows better than to value life too much.
- The people are difficult to govern because those in power have too much knowledge. That is why they are difficult to govern. They are difficult to govern because those in power possess enough food. That is why they are difficult to govern. They take their life too lightly, therefore they are difficult to govern. The constant seeker of life never risks dying.
- Men are born soft and supple; dead, they are stiff and hard. Plants are born tender and pliant; dead, they are brittle and dry. Thus whoever is stiff and inflexible is a disciple of death. Whoever is soft and yielding is a disciple of life. The hard and stiff will be broken. The soft and supple will prevail.
- Nothing in the world is as soft and yielding as water. Yet for dissolving the hard and inflexible, nothing can surpass it.
- When a great hatred is reconciled, some hatred still remains. How can this be regarded as good?
- Small is the number of people who obtain the rule by virtue and keep it. That act is like walking on the ridge of a precipice. It is like going through a door. It is like being open in four directions. It is like being ignorant and unlearned.
- Sincere words are not fine; fine words are not sincere. Those who are skilled do not argue; those who argue are not skilled. The Sage does not accumulate. The more he assists others, the more he possesses. The more he gives to others, the more he gains for himself. The Tao of heaven benefits and does not harm. The Tao of the Sage accomplishes and does not contend.