Tao Teh Ching - 60 Interactive Versions

#Click on a sentence 1 2 3 Chapter 16 Chapter 18 Back to index #

Ch. 17	Sentence 1
Beck	The best leaders the people barely know. The next best they love and praise. The next they fear. And the next they hate.
Blackney	As for him who is highest, The people just know he is there. His deputy's cherished and praised; Of the third, they are frightened; The fourth, they despise and revile.
Bynner	A leader is best When the people barely know that he exists, Not so good when people obey and acclaim him, Worst when they despise him.
Byrn	The best leaders are those the people hardly know exist. The next best is a leader who is loved and praised. Next comes the one who is feared. The worst one is the leader that is despised.
Chan	The best (rulers) are those whose existence is (merely) known by the people. The next best are those who are loved and praised. The next are those who are feared. And the next are those who are despised.
Cleary	Very great leaders in their domains are only known to exist. Those next best are loved and praised. The lesser are feared and despised.
Crowley	In the Age of Gold, the people were not conscious of their rulers; in the Age of Silver, they loved them, with songs; In the Age of Brass, they feared them; in the Age of Iron, they despised them.
Hansen	The best hierarchy is one those below realize is there. Next to that is one that you feel kin to and extol. Next to that is one you dread. Next to that is one you contemn.
LaFargue	The greatest ruler: those under him only know he exists the next best kind: they love and praise him the next: they are in awe of him the next: they despise him.
Legge	In the highest antiquity, (the people) did not know that there were (their rulers). In the next age they loved them and praised them. In the next they feared them; in the next they despised them.
Lindauer	The very highest, little knowledge is present of it That next is attached to yet praised That next is respected That next is despised.
LinYutan	The people (only) know that they exist; The next best the love and praise; The next they fear; And the next they revile.
Mabry	The best leader is one that the people are barely aware of. The next best is one who is loved and praised by the people. Next comes one who is feared. Worst is one who is despised.
McDonald	Of the best the people hardly ever know they exist; The next best they flock to and praise for nothing. The next they shrink from; the next get reviled.
Merel	The best rulers are scarcely known by their subjects; The next best are loved and praised; The next are feared; The next despised:
Mitchell	When the Master governs, the people are hardly aware that he exists. Next best is a leader who is loved. Next, one who is feared. The worst is one who is despised.
Muller	From great antiquity forth they have known and possessed it. Those of the next level loved and praised it. The next were in awe of it. And the next despised it.
Red Pine	During the High Ages people knew they were there then people loved and praised them then they feared them finally they despised them
Ta-Kao	The great rulers - the people do not notice their existence; The lesser ones - they attach to and praise them; The still lesser ones - they fear them; The still lesser ones - they despise them.
Walker	The best leader is one whose existence is barely known. Next best is one who is lived and praised. Next is one who is feared. Worst of all is a leader who is despised.
Wieger	In the early days (when, in human affairs, everything still conformed to the action of the Principle), subjects scarcely knew that they had a prince (so discreet was the action of the latter). After this the people loved and flattered their prince (because of his good deeds), but later on, they feared him (because of his laws), and scorned him (because of his unjust acts).
World	The best leaders are in harmony with their followers. The next best are those who are respected. Then comes those who are feared. The worst are those who are despised.
Wu	The highest type of ruler is one of whose existence the people are barely aware. Next comes one whom they love and praise. Next comes one whom they fear. Next comes one whom they despise and defy.

Ch. 17 Sentence 2

Beck Those who lack trust will not be trusted. Then they resort to promises.

Blackney If you trust people less than enough, Some of them never trust you.

Bynner 'Fail to honour people, They fail to honour you;'

Byrn If you don't trust the people, they will become untrustworthy.

Chan It is only when one does not have enough faith in others that others will have no faith in him.

Cleary Therefore when faith is insufficient and there is disbelief,

Crowley As the rulers lost Confidence, so also did the people lose confidence in them.

Hansen When reliability is inadequate in it There will be unreliability in it.

LaFargue When sincerity does not suffice it was not sincerity.

Legge Thus it was that when faith (in the Tao) was deficient (in the rulers) a want of faith in them ensued (in the people).

Lindauer Where there is belief without enough within A lack of believing what is within is present.

LinYutan When they do not command the people's faith, Some will lose faith in them, And then they resort to oaths!

Mabry If the leader does not have enough faith in his people, They will not have faith in him.

McDonald "Not believing people you turn them into liars" - such bosses don't command the people's faith. They lose faith in them and take to oaths!

Merel They have no faith in their people, And their people become unfaithful to them.

Mitchell If you don't trust the people, you make them untrustworthy.

Muller If you lack sincerity no one will believe you.

Red Pine when honesty fails dishonesty prevails

Ta-Kao For where faith is lacking, It cannot be met by faith.

Walker If you fail to trust people, they won't turn out to be trustworthy.

Wieger They became disloyal, though having been treated disloyally. They lost confidence in him though receiving only good words which were never put into effect.

World If one perceives others as untrustworthy, then that will be the experience that one acknowledges. The selective acknowledgment of untrustworthiness verifies one's perception of the untrustworthiness of others.

Wu When you are lacking in faith, Others will be unfaithful to you.

Ch. 17 Sentence 3

Beck But when they accomplish their task and complete their work, the people say, "We did it ourselves."

Blackney He is aloof, as if his talk Were priced beyond the purchasing; But once his project is contrived, The folk will want to say of it: "Of course! We did it by ourselves!"

Bynner But of a good leader, who talks little, When his work is done, his aim fulfilled, They will all say, 'We did this ourselves.'

Byrn The best leaders value their words, and use them sparingly. When she has accomplished her task, the people say, "Amazing: we did it, all by ourselves!"

Chan (The great rulers) value their words highly. They accomplish their task; they complete their work. Nevertheless their people say that they simply follow Nature.

Cleary it is from the high value placed on words. Works are accomplished, tasks are completed, and ordinary folk all say they are acting spontaneously.

Crowley How hesitating did they seem, the Lords of the Age of Gold, speaking with deliberation, aware of the weight of their world! Thus they accomplished all things with success; and the people deemed their well-being to be the natural course of events.

Hansen Reflectively! His ennobling of language. Works are completed; affairs proceed And the hundred surnames all call this 'our nature (our own doing)'

LaFargue ("Reticent - he is sparing with words.") He achieves successes he accomplishes his tasks and the hundred clans all say: We are just being natural.

Legge How irresolute did those (earliest rulers) appear, showing (by their reticence) the importance which they set upon their words! Their work was done and their undertakings were successful, while the people all said, 'We are as we are, of ourselves!'

Lindauer So remote, those treasure words Outstanding service performed, efforts successful the one hundred families say We did it naturally.

LinYutan But (of the best) when their task is accomplished, their work done, The people all remark, "We have done it ourselves."

Mabry The best leader puts great value in words and says little So that when his work is finished The people all say, "We did it ourselves!"

McDonald The wise man is a clever ruler; he values his words highly. It's so hard to get a single word from at any price that when his task is finished, a work well done, everyone says, "It happened by itself, and we did it."

Merel When the best rulers achieve their purpose Their subjects claim the achievement as their own.

Mitchell The Master doesn't talk, he acts. When his work is done, the people say, "Amazing: we did it, all by ourselves!"

Muller How careful she is with her precious words! When her work is complete and her job is finished, Everybody says: "We did it!"

Red Pine hesitate and guard your words when their work succeeds let people think they did it

Ta-Kao Now how much importance must be attributed to words!

Walker Therefore, guide others by quietly relying on Tao. Then, when the work is done, the people can say, "We did this ourselves."

Wieger How delicate was the touch of ancient rulers. When everything prospered under their administration, the people believed they had done everything themselves, of their own free will.

World When the leaders are in harmony with their followers, few laws are necessary and all tasks are accomplished with ease. The followers, not perceiving the administration of leadership, marvel at the manifestationsof harmony and experience a sense of self worth.

Wu The Sage is self-effacing and scanty of words. When his task is accomplished and things have been completed, All the people say, "We ourselves have achieved it!"

Ch. 17	Sentence 2
Beck	Those who lack trust will not be trusted. Then they resort to promises.
Blackney	If you trust people less than enough, Some of them never trust you.
Bynner	'Fail to honour people, They fail to honour you;'
Byrn	If you don't trust the people, they will become untrustworthy.
Chan	It is only when one does not have enough faith in others that others will have no faith in him.
Cleary	Therefore when faith is insufficient and there is disbelief,
Crowley	As the rulers lost Confidence, so also did the people lose confidence in them.
Hansen	When reliability is inadequate in it There will be unreliability in it.
LaFargue	When sincerity does not suffice it was not sincerity.
Legge	Thus it was that when faith (in the Tao) was deficient (in the rulers) a want of faith in them ensued (in the people).
Lindauer	Where there is belief without enough within A lack of believing what is within is present.
LinYutan	When they do not command the people's faith, Some will lose faith in them, And then they resort to oaths!
Mabry	If the leader does not have enough faith in his people, They will not have faith in him.
McDonald	"Not believing people you turn them into liars" - such bosses don't command the people's faith. They lose faith in them and take to oaths!
Merel	They have no faith in their people, And their people become unfaithful to them.
Mitchell	If you don't trust the people, you make them untrustworthy.
Muller	If you lack sincerity no one will believe you.
Red Pine	when honesty fails dishonesty prevails
Ta-Kao	For where faith is lacking, It cannot be met by faith.
Walker	If you fail to trust people, they won't turn out to be trustworthy.
Wieger	They became disloyal, though having been treated disloyally. They lost confidence in him though receiving only good words which were never put into effect.
World	If one perceives others as untrustworthy, then that will be the experience that one acknowledges. The selective acknowledgment of untrustworthiness verifies one's perception of the untrustworthiness of others.
Wu	When you are lacking in faith, Others will be unfaithful to you.

Ch. 17	Sentence 3
Beck	But when they accomplish their task and complete their work, the people say, "We did it ourselves."
Blackney	He is aloof, as if his talk Were priced beyond the purchasing; But once his project is contrived, The folk will want to say of it: "Of course! We did it by ourselves!"
Bynner	But of a good leader, who talks little, When his work is done, his aim fulfilled, They will all say, 'We did this ourselves.'
Byrn	The best leaders value their words, and use them sparingly. When she has accomplished her task, the people say, "Amazing: we did it, all by ourselves!"
Chan	(The great rulers) value their words highly. They accomplish their task; they complete their work. Nevertheless their people say that they simply follow Nature.
Cleary	it is from the high value placed on words. Works are accomplished, tasks are completed, and ordinary folk all say they are acting spontaneously.
Crowley	How hesitating did they seem, the Lords of the Age of Gold, speaking with deliberation, aware of the weight of their world! Thus they accomplished all things with success; and the people deemed their well-being to be the natural course of events.
Hansen	Reflectively! His ennobling of language. Works are completed; affairs proceed And the hundred surnames all call this 'our nature (our own doing)'
LaFargue	("Reticent - he is sparing with words.") He achieves successes he accomplishes his tasks and the hundred clans all say: We are just being natural.
Legge	How irresolute did those (earliest rulers) appear, showing (by their reticence) the importance which they set upon their words! Their work was done and their undertakings were successful, while the people all said, 'We are as we are, of ourselves!'
Lindauer	So remote, those treasure words Outstanding service performed, efforts successful the one hundred families say We did it naturally.
LinYutan	But (of the best) when their task is accomplished, their work done, The people all remark, "We have done it ourselves."
Mabry	The best leader puts great value in words and says little So that when his work is finished The people all say, "We did it ourselves!"
McDonald	The wise man is a clever ruler; he values his words highly. It's so hard to get a single word from at any price that when his task is finished, a work well done, everyone says, "It happened by itself, and we did it."
Merel	When the best rulers achieve their purpose Their subjects claim the achievement as their own.
Mitchell	The Master doesn't talk, he acts. When his work is done, the people say, "Amazing: we did it, all by ourselves!"
Muller	How careful she is with her precious words! When her work is complete and her job is finished, Everybody says: "We did it!"
Red Pine	hesitate and guard your words when their work succeeds let people think they did it
Ta-Kao	Now how much importance must be attributed to words!
Walker	Therefore, guide others by quietly relying on Tao. Then, when the work is done, the people can say, "We did this ourselves."
Wieger	How delicate was the touch of ancient rulers. When everything prospered under their administration, the people believed they had done everything themselves, of their own free will.
World	When the leaders are in harmony with their followers, few laws are necessary and all tasks are accomplished with ease. The followers, not perceiving the administration of leadership, marvel at the manifestationsof harmony and experience a sense of self worth.
Wu	The Sage is self-effacing and scanty of words. When his task is accomplished and things have been completed, All the people say, "We ourselves have achieved it!"