#Click on a sentence 1 2 3 4 5 6 Chapter 30 Chapter 32 Back to index #

Ch. 31	Sentence 2
Beck	In peace leaders favor the creative left. In war they favor the destructive right.
Blackney	In the usage of men of good breeding, Honour is had at the left; Good omens belong on the left Bad omens belong on the right; And warriors press to the right!
Bynner	But in time of war men civilized in peace Turn from their higher to their lower nature.
Byrn	The wise man values the left side, and in time of war he values the right.
Chan	The good ruler when at home honours the left. When at war he honours the right.
Cleary	Therefore the place of honor for the cultured is on the left, while the honored place for the martialist is on the right.
Crowley	The place of honour is on the right in war time: so thinks the man of distinction.
Hansen	If the 'superior gentleman' is in place then we value the left. If we use martial force then we value the right.
LaFargue	"The gentleman at home favours the left when at war he favours the right."
Legge	The superior man ordinarily considers the left hand the most honourable place, but in time of war the right hand.
Lindauer	The master-child resides in and comes to treasure the left Using strategy, come to treasure the right
LinYutan	The gentleman favors the left in civilian life, But on military occasions favors the right.
Mabry	(Wise people prefer the left side as the place of honour, but the General always stands at the right.)
McDonald	The gentleman favours the left hand side among people in peace; peace people are of good birth. In a fair peace the symbolic left is the place of honour. Yes, a good ruler honours the left and its good omens when at home, but in war this is reversed: On military occasions he favours the right side as the place of war honour. And so he honours the right of bad omens.
Merel
Mitchell
Muller	In the domestic affairs of the gentleman The left is the position of honour. In military affairs the right is the position of honour.
Red Pine	in peace the ruler honours the left in war he honours the right
Ta-Kao	The man of Tao when dwelling at home makes the left as the place of honour; and when using arms makes the right as the place of honour.
Walker	Unevolved people are eager to act out of strength, but a person of Tao values peace and quiet. He knows that every being is born of the womb of Tao. This means that his enemies are his enemies second, his own brothers and sisters first.
Wieger	In times of peace, the prince puts the civil minister he honours on his left (the place of honour); but even in times of war, he puts the military commander on his right (which is not the place of honour, even though he is exercising his function).
World	In time of celebration the left is the dominant position; In times of grief the right. During wartime the general always stands on the left and the king on the right.
Wu	In ordinary life, a gentleman regards the left side as a place of honour; In war, the right side is the place of honour.

Ch. 31	Sentence 3
Beck
Blackney	When the general stands at the right His lieutenant is placed at the left. So the usage of men of great power Follows that of the funeral rite.
Bynner	Arms are an instrument of evil, No measure for thoughtful men Until there fail all other choice But sad acceptance of it.
Byrn	Weapons are meant for destruction, and thus are avoided by the wise. Only as a last resort will a wise person use a deadly weapon.
Chan	Weapons are instruments of evil, not the instruments of a good ruler. When he uses them unavoidably, he regards calm restraint as the best principle.
Cleary	Weapon, being instruments of ill omen, are not the tools of the cultures, who use them only when unavoidable.
Crowley	Sharp weapons are ill-omened, unworthy of such a man; he uses them only in necessity.
Hansen	Martial force is an inauspicious artifact. It is not an artifact of the 'superior gentleman.' When you have no choice and use it, deem detachment the better attitude.
LaFargue	Weapons are ill-omened instruments not instruments for the gentleman he uses them when he has no choice. What is calm and quiet is highest.
Legge	Those sharp weapons are instruments of evil omen, and not the instruments of the superior man; - he uses them only on the compulsion of necessity.
Lindauer	-
LinYutan	-
Mabry	Weapons are the tools of fear. They are not appropriate for a Sage And should only be one's last resort. Peace is always far superior.
McDonald	-
Merel	His purpose is creation; Their purpose is destruction. Weapons are tools of violence, Not of the sage; He uses them only when there is no choice, And then calmly, and with tact,
Mitchell	Weapons are the tools of fear; a decent man will avoid them except in the direst necessity and, if compelled, will use them only with the utmost restraint. Peace is his highest value. If the peace has been shattered, how can he be content?
Muller	Since weapons are inauspicious instruments, they are not the instruments of the gentleman So he uses them without enjoyment And values plainness.
Red Pine	weapons are not auspicious weapons are not a ruler's tools he wields them when he has no choice dispassion is the best
Ta-Kao	He uses them only when he cannot avoid it.
Walker	Thus he resorts to weapons only in the direst necessity, and then uses them with utmost restraint.
Wieger	Weapons are disastrous instruments. A wise prince uses them only with reluctance and from necessity. He prefers always a modest peace to a glorious victory.
Wu	As weapons are instruments of evil, They are not properly a gentleman's instruments; Only on necessity will he resort to them. For peace and quiet are dearest to this heart,

Ch. 31	Sentence 4
Beck	Weapons are tools of destruction, not used by good leaders. When their use cannot be avoided, the best policy is calm restraint.
Blackney	Weapons are tools of bad omen, By gentlemen not to be used; But when it cannot be avoided, They use them with calm and restraint.
Bynner	Triumph is not beautiful. He who thinks triumph beautiful Is one with a will to kill, And one with a will to kill Shall never prevail upon the world.
Byrn	If peace is her true objective how can she rejoice in the victory of war? Those who rejoice in victory delight in the slaughter of humanity. Those who resort to violence will never bring peace to the world.
Chan	Even when he is victorious, he does not regard it as praiseworthy, For to praise victory is to delight in the slaughter of men. He who delights in the slaughter of men will not succeed in the empire.
Cleary	They consider it best to be aloof; they win without beautifying it. Those who beautify it enjoy killing people. Those who enjoy killing cannot get their will of the world.
Crowley	He values peace and ease, desires not violence of victory. To desire victory is to desire the death of men; and to desire that is to fail to propitiate the people.
Hansen	When victorious don't treat it as glorious. Those who glorify it - that is to take satisfaction in killing. If you take satisfaction in killing, you cannot take that as filling the intent of the social world.
LaFargue	When victorious, he does not think this a fine thing because to think it fine is to delight in slaughtering people. One who delights in slaughtering people cannot achieve his purposes in the world.
Legge	Calm and repose are what he prizes; victory (by force of arms) is to him undesirable. To consider this desirable would be to delight in the slaughter of men; and he who delights in the slaughter of men cannot get his will in the kingdom.
Lindauer	Those with strategy lack the tools of fortune They have not the tools of the master-child When using them in the absence of a foreseeable need Uncaring, indifferent actions are better.
LinYutan	Soldiers are weapons of evil. They are not the weapons of the gentleman. When the use of soldiers cannot be helped, The best policy is calm restraint.
Mabry	There is no beauty in victory. To find beauty in it would be to rejoice at killing people. Anyone who delights in slaughter will never find satisfaction in this world.
McDonald	The durable, even when he conquers, does hardly regard weapons as lovely things. Weapons and soldiers can be bad and evil-doing tools. They're not often the tools of the gentleman and good ruler. To hold them dear means to delight in them, and so to delight in slaughter of men. And he who delights in the slaughter of men will never get what he looks for out of those that live and function under heaven. In ugly victory there's no beauty, and who calls it handsome perhaps preaches slaughter. Use of soldiers [and police] can't be helped, best policy is calm restraint. Who delights in the slaughter of men wont succeed, wont succeed in ruling the world; and slaying of multitudes should be mourned.
Merel	For he finds no beauty in them. Whoever finds beauty in weapons Delights in the slaughter of men; And who delights in slaughter Cannot content himself with peace.
Mitchell	His enemies are not demons, but human beings like himself. He doesn't wish them personal harm. Nor does he rejoice in victory. How could he rejoice in victory and delight in the slaughter of men?
Muller	Victory is never sweet. Those for whom victory is sweet Are those who enjoy killing. If you enjoy killing, you cannot gain the trust of the people.
Red Pine	thus he does not beautify them he who beautifies them enjoys killing others he who enjoys killing others achieves no worldly rule
Ta-Kao	In his conquests he takes no delight. If he take delight in them, it would mean that he enjoys in the slaughter of men. He who takes delight in the slaughter of men cannot have his will done in the world.
Walker	He takes no pleasure in victory, because to rejoice in victory is to delight in killing. Whoever delights in killing will not find success in this world.
Wieger	No one should think that victory is a good thing. He who thinks that, shows that he has the heart of an assassin. Such a man would not be fit to reign over the empire.
World	Weapons are instruments of death and the tools of a warrior. The sage avoids them at all cost; and sometimes prefers death rather than touching them. Peace and harmony are the sage's reality. She considers victory to be the bastard child of war.
Wu	And to him even a victory is no cause for rejoicing. To rejoice over a victory is to rejoice over the slaughter of men! Hence a man who rejoices over the slaughter of men cannot be expected to thrive in the world of men.

Ch. 31	Sentence 5
Beck	Even in victory there is no glory. Those who celebrate victory delight in slaughter. Those who delight in slaughter will not be successful leaders.
Blackney	Even in victory's hour These tools are unlovely to see; For those who admire them truly Are men who in murder delight. As for those who delight to do murder, It is certain they never can get From the world what they sought when ambition Urged them to power and rule.
Bynner	It is a good sign when man's higher nature comes forward, When retainers take charge And the master stays back As in the conduct of a funeral.
Byrn	The left side is a place of honor on happy occasions. The right side is reserved for mourning at a funeral. When the lieutenants take the left side to prepare for war, the general should be on the right side, because he knows the outcome will be death.
Chan	In auspicious affairs, the left is honoured. In inauspicious affairs, the right is honoured. The lieutenant general stands on the left. The senior general stands on the right. This is to say that the arrangement follows that of funeral ceremonies.
Cleary	The left is favored for auspicious things, the right for things of ill omen: so the subordinate general is on the left, the top general on the right. That means when you are in ascendancy of power you handle it as you would a mourning.
Crowley	At feasts, the left hand is the high seat; at funerals, the right. The second in command of the arm leads at the left wing, the commander-in-chief, the right wing; it is as if the battle were a rite of Mourning!
Hansen	Auspicious affairs favour the left, inauspicious the right. The lower-rank general is on the left and the higher rank on the right. These words amount to arranging them according to the funeral rite.
LaFargue	"In fortunate times, prefer the left in mourning, prefer the right." The lower officer takes his stand on the left the higher officer takes his stand on the right. This says: He takes his stand as at a mourning ceremony.
Legge	On occasions of festivity to be on the left hand is the prized position; on occasions of mourning, the right hand. The second in command of the army has his place on the left; the general commanding in chief has his on the right; - his place, that is, is assigned to him as in the rites of mourning.
Lindauer	Conquer yet without embellishing Yet those who are embellishing justify joy in slaughtering men In the end those who are joyful in slaughtering men Cannot come to achieve their aspired relation with the world.
LinYutan	Even in victory, there is no beauty, And who calls it beautiful Is one who delights in slaughter. He who delights in slaughter Will not succeed in his ambition to rule the world. [The things of good omen favor the left. The things of ill omen favor the right. The lieutenant-general stands on the left, The general stands on the right. That is to say, it is celebrated as a Funeral Rite.]
Mabry	(When celebrating happy occasions, the left side is the place of honour, But on unhappy occasions, the right is preferred. Then we see those of lower rank standing on the left; The General is given the right-hand position.)
McDonald	-
Merel
Mitchell
Muller	On auspicious occasions the place of honour is on the left. On inauspicious occasions the place of honour is on the right. The lieutenant commander stands on the left. The commander-in-chief stands on the right.
Red Pine	thus we honour the left for joy we honour the right for sorrow the left is where the adjutant stands the commander on the right
Ta-Kao
Walker	Observe victories as you observe a death in the family: with sorrow and mourning.
Wieger	According to the rites, those of good omen are placed on the left, those of ill-omen on the right. (Now when the emperor receives two military officers together), the one of subordinate rank (who only acts on superior orders, and is therefore less ill-omened) is placed on the left. The commanding officer is placed on the right, that is, in the first place according to the funeral rites, (the place of the chief mourner).
World	If you revel in victory, then you sanction war and the killing of human beings. If you accept killing, you have forgotten your oneness with all beings.
Wu	On happy occasions the left side is preferred; On sad occasions the right side. In the army, the Lieutenant Commander stands on the left, While the Commander-in-Chief stands on the right. This means that war is treated on a par with a funeral service.

Ch. 31	Sentence 6
Beck	The killing of many should be mourned with sorrow. A victory should be celebrated with funeral ceremonies.
Blackney	A multitude slain! - and their death Is a matter for grief and for tears; The victory after a conflict Is a theme for a funeral rite.
Bynner	The death of a multitude is a cause for mourning: Consider your triumph as a funeral.
Byrn	The death of many should be greeted with great sorrow, and the victory celebration should honor those who have died.
Chan	For the slaughter of the multitude, let us weep with sorrow and grief. For a victory, let us observe the occasion with funeral ceremonies.
Cleary	When you have killed many people, you weep for them in sorrow. When you win a war, you celebrate by mourning.
Crowley	He that has slain most men should weep for them most bitterly; so then the place of the victor is assigned to him with philosophical propriety.
Hansen	Killing peoples in crowds, we cry for them in bitter grief. With victory in war we arrange things according to the funeral rite.
LaFargue	At the slaughter of such masses of men, he weeps for them, mourning and lamenting. When victorious in the battle - he takes his stand as at a mourning ceremony.
Legge	He who has killed multitudes of men should weep for them with the bitterest grief; and the victor in battle has his place (rightly) according to those rites.
Lindauer	-
LinYutan	The slaying of multitudes should be mourned with sorrow. A victory should be celebrated with the Funeral Rite.
Mabry	Military officers should observe their duties gravely, For when many people are killed They should be mourned with great sorrow. Celebrate your victory only with funeral rites.
McDonald	A host that has slain men had better be received with grief and mourning rites; he that has conquered in battle had better be received and celebrated with some mournful funeral custom. A victory is the grand occasion for funerals.
Merel	So slaughters must be mourned And conquest celebrated with a funeral.
Mitchell	He enters a battle gravely, with sorrow and with great compassion, as if he were attending a funeral.
Muller	And they speak, using the funerary rites to bury them. The common people, from whom all the dead have come Weep in lamentation. The victors bury them with funerary rites.
Red Pine	which means at a funeral when you kill another honour him with your tears when the battle is won treat it as a wake
Ta-Kao
Walker	Every victory is a funeral for kin.
Wieger	For it behooves one who has killed many men to weep tears of lamentation for them. The only place really fitting for a conquering general is that of the chief mourner (leading the mourning for those whose death he has caused).
World	If even one person is killed in war, it is cause for great grief and mourning. Victory is simply the maker of widows and orphans.
Wu	Because many people have been killed, it is only right that survivors should mourn for them. Hence, even a victory is a funeral.