Tao te ching_ annotated & explained - Derek Lin [19]
Things become strong and then grow old
This is called contrary to the Tao
That which is contrary to the Tao will soon perish8
56
Those who know do not talk
Those who talk do not know1
Close the mouth2
Shut the doors3
Blunt the sharpness4
Unravel the knots5
Dim the glare6
Mix the dust7
This is called Mystic Oneness
They cannot obtain this and be closer
They cannot obtain this and be distant
They cannot obtain this and be benefited
They cannot obtain this and be harmed
They cannot obtain this and be valued
They cannot obtain this and be degraded
Therefore, they become honored by the world8
57
Govern a country with upright integrity
Deploy the military with surprise tactics1
Take the world with noninterference
How do I know this is so?
With the following:
When there are many restrictions in the world
The people become more impoverished2
When people have many sharp weapons
The country becomes more chaotic
When people have many clever tricks
More strange things occur
The more laws are posted
The more robbers and thieves there are3
Therefore the sage says:
I take unattached action, and the people transform themselves
I prefer quiet, and the people right themselves
I do not interfere, and the people enrich themselves
I have no desires, and the people simplify themselves4
58
When governing is lackluster
The people are simple and honest1
When governing is scrutinizing
The people are shrewd and crafty2
Misfortune is what fortune depends upon
Fortune is where misfortune hides beneath
Who knows their ultimate end?
They have no determined outcome
Rightness reverts to become strange
Goodness reverts to become wicked3
The confusion of people
has lasted many long days4
Therefore the sages are:
Righteous without being scathing5
Incorruptible without being piercing6
Straightforward without being ruthless
Illuminated without being flashy
59
In governing people and serving Heaven
There is nothing like conservation1
Only with conservation is it called submitting early
Submitting early is called emphasis on accumulating virtues2
Accumulating virtues means there is nothing one cannot overcome
When there is nothing that one cannot overcome
One’s limits are unknown3
The limitations being unknown, one can possess sovereignty
With this mother principle of power, one can be everlasting4
This is called deep roots and firm foundation5
The Tao of longevity and lasting vision
60
Ruling a large country is like cooking a small fish1
Using the Tao to manage the world
Its demons have no power2
Not only do its demons have no power
Its gods do not harm people3
Not only do its gods not harm people
The sages also do not harm people4
They both do no harm to one another
So virtue merges and returns5
61
The large country is like the lowest river
The converging point of the world
The receptive female of the world
The female always overcomes the male with serenity
Using serenity as the lower position1
Thus if the large country is lower than the small country
Then it can take the small country
If the small country is lower than the large country
Then it can be taken by the large country2
Thus one uses the lower position to take
The other uses the lower position to be taken3
The large country only wishes to gather and protect people
The small country only wishes to join and serve people
So that both obtain what they wish
The larger one should assume the lower position4
62
The Tao is the wonder of all things
The treasure of the kind person
The protection of the unkind person1
Admirable words can win the public’s respect
Admirable actions can improve people
Those who are unkind
How can they be abandoned?
Therefore, when crowning the Emperor
And installing the three ministers
Although there is the offering of jade before four horses2
None of it can compare to being seated in this Tao3
Why did the ancients value this Tao so much?
Is it not said that those who seek will find,
And those