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Chapter Seventy
My words are very easy to know, and very easy to practice; but there is no one in the world who is able to know and able to practice them.
There is an originating and all-comprehending principle in my words, and an authoritative law for the things which I enforce.¬ It is because they do [...]
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¬Chapter Sixty-Nine
A master of the art of war has said, ‘I do not dare to be the host to commence the war; I prefer to be the guest to act on the defensive.¬ I do not dare to advance an inch; I prefer to retire a foot.’¬ This is called marshalling the ranks where there [...]
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Chapter Sixty-Eight
He who in Tao’s wars has skill
Assumes no martial port;
He who fights with most good will
To rage makes no resort.
He who vanquishes yet still
Keeps from his foes apart;
He whose bests men most fulfill
Yet humbly plies his art.
Thus we say, ‘He ne’er contends,
And therein is his might.’
Thus we say, ‘Men’s wills he bends,
That they with [...]
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Chapter Sixty-Seven
All the world says that, while my Tao is great, it yet appears to be inferior to other systems of teaching.¬¬ Now it is just its greatness that makes it seem to be inferior.¬ If it were like any other system, for long would its smallness have been known!
But I have three precious things [...]
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Chapter Sixty-Six
That whereby the rivers and seas are able to receive the homage and tribute of all the valley streams, is their skill in being lower than they;–it is thus that they are the kings of them all.¬ So it is that the sage ruler, wishing to be above men, puts himself by his words [...]
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Chapter Sixty-Five
The ancients who showed their skill in practicing the Tao did so, not to enlighten the people, but rather to make them simple and ignorant.
The difficulty in governing the people arises from their having much knowledge.¬ He who tries to govern a state by his wisdom is a scourge to it; while he who [...]
