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But cannot put into practice3

Therefore, sages say:

The one who accepts the humiliation of the state4

Is called its master

The one who accepts the misfortune of the state5

Becomes king of the world

The truth seems like the opposite6

79

After settling a great dispute

There must be remaining resentments1

How can this be considered good?

Therefore, the sage holds the left part of the contract

But does not demand payment from the other person2

Those who have virtue hold the contract

Those without virtue hold the collections3

The Heavenly Tao has no favorites

It constantly gives to the kind people4

80

Small country, few people

Let them have many weapons but not use them

Let the people regard death seriously

And not migrate far away

Although they have boats and chariots

They have no need to take them

Although they have armors and weapons

They have no need to display them1

Let the people return to tying knots and using them2

Savor their food, admire their clothes3

Content in their homes, happy in their customs

Neighboring countries see one another

Hear the sounds of roosters and dogs from one another

The people, until they grow old and die

Do not go back and forth with one another4

81

True words are not beautiful

Beautiful words are not true1

Those who are good do not debate

Those who debate are not good2

Those who know are not broad of knowledge

Those who are broad of knowledge do not know3

Sages do not accumulate

The more they assist others, the more they possess

The more they give to others, the more they gain4

The Tao of Heaven

Benefits and does not harm

The Tao of sages

Assists and does not contend5

Annotations

1 Annotations

1 The first line of the Tao Te Ching can be one of the most confusing. Some have interpreted it to mean that we must never speak of the Tao, or that if we try to explain it, then we must have no true understanding of it.

What it actually means is that we can never understand the Tao through the intellect alone. We must feel it. Talking about it can be useful but will never replace the actual experience of living it. (back to text)

2 Not only is the Tao beyond the power of spoken words to describe, but it is also beyond the power of written words to define. That which can be defined is limited by the definition, and the Tao transcends all limitations. (back to text)

3 Before the universe came into being, concepts and things did not exist, and no human consciousness was present to perceive and name them. Therefore, the Tao that initiated Creation was the ultimate nameless enigma. (back to text)

4 Once the universe came into being, the stage was set for the physical manifestation of everything, including human beings. These humans eventually attained sufficient awareness to observe all things and name them. (back to text)

5 Self-serving desires tend to limit us to a superficial level. If we think of other people and not just focus on ourselves, we will find it much easier to connect with the underlying reality. This applies to every aspect of life. It is one of the most powerful teachings of the Tao. (back to text)

6 The two refer to manifestations (outer appearance) and essence (inner truth). They represent the material world and the spiritual realm respectively. Both emerge from the Tao, because the Tao encompasses all—not only spirituality but also the physical universe. The basic unity of the two is the mystery that we investigate in Tao cultivation. (back to text)

2 Annotations

1 Tao sages have long recognized the relative nature of the world. Values have meaning only in comparison. For instance, a task can only be “easy” if we compare it to some other task that is more difficult. If there is nothing else to compare it with, the task cannot be rated in terms of difficulty. (back to text)

2 Similarly, we can only say an object is “long” if we are comparing it to another similar object that is shorter. Each half of a duality cannot exist without the other. A descriptive concept creates its