Tao Teh Ching - 60 Interactive Versions

#Click on a sentence 1 2 Chapter 42 Chapter 44 Back to index #

Ch. 43	Sentence 1
Beck	The softest things in the world overcome the hardest. Non-being penetrates even where there is no space. Through this I know the value of non-action.
Blackney	The softest of stuff in the world Penetrates quickly the hardest; Insubstantial, it enters Where no room is. By this I know the benefit Of something done by quiet being;
Bynner	As the soft yield of water cleaves obstinate stone, So to yield with life solves the insoluble: To yield, I have learned, is to come back again.
Byrn	That which offers no resistance, overcomes the hardest substances. That which offers no resistance can enter where there is no space.
Chan	The softest things in the world overcome the hardest things in the world. Non-being penetrates that in which there is no space. Through this I know the advantage of taking no action.
Cleary	What is softest in the world drives what is hardest in the world. Nonbeing enters where there is no room; that is how we know noncontrivance enhances.
Crowley	The Softest substance hunts down the hardest; the unsubstantial penetrates where there is no opening. Here is the Virtue of Inertia.
Hansen	The most yielding in the social world gallops over the most firm in the social world. That which lacks being enters into that which lacks space. I, with this, know the advantage of lacking deem-acting.
LaFargue	The Softest thing in the world rides right over the Hardest things in the world. What-has-No-Being enters what-leaves-no-opening. This makes me realize the advantage of Not Doing.
Legge	The softest thing in the world dashes against and overcomes the hardest; that which has no (substantial) existence enters where there is no crevice. I know hereby what advantage belongs to doing nothing (with a purpose).
Lindauer	The most yielding reach of he world Gallops around the most rigid reach of the world Absence of presence enters absence of space. Appropriately I come to know There is presence of advantage in the absence of acting.
LinYutan	The softest substance of the world Goes through the hardest. That-which-is-without-form penetrates that-which-has-no-crevice; Through this I know the benefit of taking no action.
Mabry	The softest thing in the World Overcomes the hardest thing in the World. That which is without substance can enter even where there is no space.
McDonald	The softest things in the world overcome the hardest things in the world. The softest substance radiates through the hardest. Also, what's most yielding can eventually overwhelm the hardest. Formless penetrates no-crevice; substanceless it can enter where there's no space; all this could be not-yet-being entering and jostling non-space. That's how I know the value of action that's actionless. Through this I [also] know the benefit or advantage of taking no action.
Merel	Water overcomes the stone; Without substance it requires no opening; This is the benefit of taking no action.
Mitchell	The gentlest thing in the world overcomes the hardest thing in the world. That which has no substance enters where there is no space. This shows the value of non-action.
Muller	The softest thing in the world Will overcome the hardest. Non-being can enter where there is no space. Therefore I know the benefit of unattached action.
Red Pine	The weakest thing in the world excels the strongest thing in the world what doesn't exist finds room where there is none thus we know doing nothing succeeds
Ta-Kao	The non-existent can enter into the impenetrable. By this I know that non-action is useful.
Walker	The soft overcomes the hard in the world as a gentle rider controls a galloping horse. That without substance can penetrate where there is no space. By these I know the benefit of nonaction.
Wieger	Always and everywhere it is the soft that wears the hard (as water wears stone). Non-being penetrates even where there are no cracks (as in the most homogeneous bodies such as metal and stone). From that I conclude the supreme effectiveness of non-action.
World	The softest manifestation in the Infinite overcomes the hardest manifestation in the Infinite. The intangible permeates the tangible. Non-action incorporates action
Wu	The softest of all things Overrides the hardest of all things. Only Nothing can enter into no-space. Hence I know the advantages of Non-Ado.

Ch. 43 Sentence 2

Beck Teaching without words and the value of non-action are understood by few in the world.

Blackney In all the world but few can know Accomplishment apart from work, Instruction when no words are used.

Bynner but this unworded lesson, This easy example, Is lost upon men.

Byrn Few in the world can comprehend the teaching without words, or understand the value of non-action.

Chan Few in the world can understand the teaching without words and the advantage of taking no action.

Cleary Unspoken guidance and uncontrived enhancement are reached by few in the world.

Crowley Few are they who attain: whose speech is Silence, whose Work is Inertia.

Hansen The teaching that is not put in language, The advantage of lacking deem-acting, In the social world, these are rarely achieved.

LaFargue Teaching done by not talking the advantage gained by Not Doing - few things in the world can match this.

Legge There are few in the world who attain to the teaching without words, and the advantage arising from non-action.

Lindauer Telling without words Advantage in the absence of acting The world rarely reaches this.

LinYutan The teaching without words And the benefit of taking no action Are without compare in the universe.

Mabry Therefore I know the value of non-action. Teaching without words And benefit without actions There are few in the World who can grasp it.

McDonald There can be [sad] teaching without words. To teach without words can be best. Still few can understand such stuff. And there can be solid value in action that's actionless, or the advantage of taking no action. Yes, the [said] benefit of taking no action is without compare. Few can understand it.

Merel Yet benefit without action, And experience without abstraction, Are practiced by very few.

Mitchell Teaching without words, performing without actions: that is the Master's way.

Muller The wordless teaching and unattached action Are rarely seen.

Red Pine teaching without words succeeding without effort few in the world can equal this

Ta-Kao Teaching without words, utility without action - Few in the world have come to this.

Walker Teaching without words, working without actions-nothing in the world can compare with them.

Wieger Silence and inaction - few men come to understand their effectiveness.

World Teaching by living, working without laboring is comprehended by only a few.

Wu Few things under heaven are as instructive as the lessons of Silence. Or as beneficial as the fruits of Non-Ado.

Ch. 43	Sentence 2
Beck	Teaching without words and the value of non-action are understood by few in the world.
Blackney	In all the world but few can know Accomplishment apart from work, Instruction when no words are used.
Bynner	but this unworded lesson, This easy example, Is lost upon men.
Byrn	Few in the world can comprehend the teaching without words, or understand the value of non-action.
Chan	Few in the world can understand the teaching without words and the advantage of taking no action.
Cleary	Unspoken guidance and uncontrived enhancement are reached by few in the world.
Crowley	Few are they who attain: whose speech is Silence, whose Work is Inertia.
Hansen	The teaching that is not put in language, The advantage of lacking deem-acting, In the social world, these are rarely achieved.
LaFargue	Teaching done by not talking the advantage gained by Not Doing - few things in the world can match this.
Legge	There are few in the world who attain to the teaching without words, and the advantage arising from non-action.
Lindauer	Telling without words Advantage in the absence of acting The world rarely reaches this.
LinYutan	The teaching without words And the benefit of taking no action Are without compare in the universe.
Mabry	Therefore I know the value of non-action. Teaching without words And benefit without actions There are few in the World who can grasp it.
McDonald	There can be [sad] teaching without words. To teach without words can be best. Still few can understand such stuff. And there can be solid value in action that's actionless, or the advantage of taking no action. Yes, the [said] benefit of taking no action is without compare. Few can understand it.
Merel	Yet benefit without action, And experience without abstraction, Are practiced by very few.
Mitchell	Teaching without words, performing without actions: that is the Master's way.
Muller	The wordless teaching and unattached action Are rarely seen.
Red Pine	teaching without words succeeding without effort few in the world can equal this
Ta-Kao	Teaching without words, utility without action - Few in the world have come to this.
Walker	Teaching without words, working without actions-nothing in the world can compare with them.
Wieger	Silence and inaction - few men come to understand their effectiveness.
World	Teaching by living, working without laboring is comprehended by only a few.
Wu	Few things under heaven are as instructive as the lessons of Silence. Or as beneficial as the fruits of Non-Ado.