Tao Teh Ching - 60 Interactive Versions

#Click on a sentence 1 2 3 Chapter 69 Chapter 71 Back to index #

Ch. 70	Sentence 1
Beck	My ideas are easy to understand and easy to practice. Yet no one understands them or practices them.
Blackney	My words are easy just to understand: To live by them is very easy too; Yet it appears that none in all the world Can understand or make them come to life.
Bynner	My way is so simple to feel, so easy to apply, That only a few will feel it or apply it.
Byrn	My words are easy to understand and easier to put into practice. Yet no one in the world seems to understand them, and are not able to apply what I teach.
Chan	My doctrines are easy to understand and very easy to practice, But none in the world can understand or practice them.
Cleary	My sayings are easy to recognize, and very easy to apply. But no one in the world can recognize them, and no one can apply them.
Crowley	My words are easy to understand and to perform; but is there anyone in the world who can understand them and perform them?
Hansen	My words are profoundly easy to know. Profoundly easy to perform. In the social world none are able to know or to perform.
LaFargue	My words are very easy to understand, very easy to practice. No one in the world can understand, No one can practice them.
Legge	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.
Lindauer	My words Are very easy to know Are very easy to practice. In the world Noone is able to know Noone is able to practice.
LinYutan	My teachings are very easy to understand and very easy to practice, But no one can understand them and no one can practice them.
Mabry	My words are very easy to understand And very easy to practice. Yet the World is not able to undertand Nor able to put them into practice.
McDonald	My words are very easy to understand and very easy to put into practice. Yet no one understands them; no one puts them into practice.
Merel	My words are easy to understand And my actions are easy to perform Yet no other can understand or perform them.
Mitchell	My teachings are easy to understand and easy to put into practice. Yet your intellect will never grasp them, and if you try to practice them, you'll fail.
Muller	My words are easy to understand And easy to practice. Yet nobody understands them or practices them.
Red Pine	My words are easy to understand easy to employ but no one can understand them no one can employ them
Ta-Kao	Words have an ancestor; deeds have a governor. My words are very easy to know, and very easy to practice, Yet all men in the world do not know them, nor do they practice them.
Walker	My words are very easy to understand, very easy to put into practice. But you can't "understand" them, can't put them into "practice."
Wieger	What I (Lao Zi) teach is easy to understand and to practice, and yet the world neither understands or practices it.
World	My words are easy to understand and easy to put into practice, but unfortunately few people understand them or try to live by them.
Wu	My words are very easy to understand, and very easy to practice: But the world cannot understand them, nor practice them.

Ch. 70 Sentence 2

Beck My ideas have a source; my actions have a master. Because people do not understand this, they do not know me. Since few know me, I am very precious.

Blackney My words have ancestors, my works a prince; Since none know this, unknown I too remain. But honour comes to me when least I'm known:

Bynner If it were not the lasting way, the natural way to try, If it were a passing way, everyone would try it. But however few shall go my way Or feel concerned with me, Some there are and those are they Who witness what they see:

Byrn My teachings come from the ancients, the things I do are done for a reason. Because you do not know me, you are not able to understand my teachings

Chan My doctrines have a source (Nature); my deeds have a master (Tao). It is because people do not understand this that they do not understand me. Few people know me, and therefore I am highly valued.

Cleary Sayings have a source, events have a leader. It is only through ignorance that I am not known. Those who know me are rare; those who emulate me a noble.

Crowley My words derive from a creative and universal Principle, in accord with the One Law. Men, not knowing these, understand me not. Few are they that understand me; therefore am I the more to be valued.

Hansen Language has an ancestor and social affairs have a ruler. In general only lacking know-how - this counts as my know-how. If those who know me are rare then things of mine are valuable.

LaFargue The words have an ancestor the practice has a master. They just do not understand and so they do not understand me. (So few understand me - a rare treasure indeed.)

Legge 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 not know these, that men do not know me. They who know me are few, and I am on that account (the more) to be prized.

Lindauer Words possess an ancestor Efforts possess a sovereign. In the end only with absence of knowledge Appropriate lack of self-knowledge happens Knowledge of that which is the self is rare And then that which is the self is treasured.

LinYutan In my words there is a principle. In the affairs of men there is a system. Because they know not these, They also know me not. Since there are few that know me, Therefore I am distinguished.

Mabry My words speak of the primal. My deeds are but service. Unless people understand this They won't understand me. And since so few understand me, Then such understanding is rare and valuable indeed.

McDonald But some of my teaching could have nature as a source, and also there's a principle-ruled ancestry in some of my words. Yes, [some of] my deeds have a lord; my deeds could have [right] dao as sovereign. Most men don't understand this, they're unable to understand me. Few people understand me, and on this my real value depends. I am highly valued, for few understand me.

Merel My words have meaning; my actions have reason; Yet these cannot be known and I cannot be known. We are each unique, and therefore valuable;

Mitchell My teachings are older than the world. How can you grasp their meaning?

Muller My words have an origin; My actions have a principle. It is only because of your not understanding this That you do not understand me. Since there are few who understand me I am valued.

Red Pine words have an ancestor deeds have a master because they have no understanding people fail to understand me rare are they who understand me thus I am exalted

Ta-Kao It is because they have knowledge that they do not know me. When those who know me are few, eventually I am beyond all praise.

Walker Words have their ruler. Eventshave their origins. People wh can't understand this can't understand me. Those who do are few.

Wieger My precepts and procedures derive from a superior principle and procedure, the Principle and its Virtue. The world does not recognize the Principle which directs me, that is why it does not know me. Very few understand me. That makes my glory.

World My thoughts have always existed,but since people are confused, they do not embrace them. Because people do not understand me, they are confused in conflict and war rather than living in peace and harmony. Those that acknowledge their oneness with Infinity are few. Those that call me crazy are applauded by others that are confused.

Wu My words have an Ancestor. My deeds have a Lord. The people have no knowledge of this. Therefore, they have no knowledge of me. The fewer persons know me, The nobler are they that follow me.

Ch. 70 Sentence 3

Beck Therefore the wise wear coarse clothes and keep the jewel inside.

Blackney The Wise Man, with a jewel in his breast, Goes clad in garments made of shoddy stuff.

Bynner Sanity is a haircloth sheath With a jewel underneath.

Byrn Because those who know me are few, my teachings become even more precious.

Chan Therefore the sage wears a coarse cloth on top and carries jade within his bosom.

Cleary This is why sages dress plainly, and conceal what is precious.

Crowley The Wise Man wears sackcloth, but guards his jewel in his bosom.

Hansen Using this: Sages wrap precious jade in burlap.

LaFargue And so the Wise Person: Dressed in shabby clothes, jade under his shirt.

Legge It is thus that the sage wears (a poor garb of) hair cloth, while he carries his (signet of) jade in his bosom.

Lindauer Appropriately it happens that sages have A covering of coarse cloth A bosom of jade.

LinYutan Therefore the Sage wears a coarse cloth on top And carries jade within his bosom.

Mabry Therefore the Sage wears common clothes AAnd hides his treasures only in is heart.

McDonald The wise man wears a coarse cloth on top and carries jade underneath his dress, within his bosom.

Merel Though the sage wears coarse clothes, his heart is jade.

Mitchell If you want to know me, look inside your heart.

Muller Therefore the sage wears coarse clothes. Yet hides a jewel in his bosom.

Red Pine the sage therefore wears coarse cloth and keeps his jade inside

Ta-Kao Therefore the Sage wears clothes of coarse cloth but carries jewels in his bosom; He knows himself but does not display himself; He loves himself but does not hold himself in high esteem. Thus he rejects the latter and takes the former.

Walker They wear coarse cloth and carry jade in their breasts.

Wieger It befalls me to be like the Sage who is unrecognized from amongst the common people because of his humble appearance, even though his interior is filled with jewels.

World Therefore, the sage is modest in her apparel, but carries the priceless jewel of peace and harmony in her heart.

Wu Therefore, the Sage wears coarse clothes While keeping the jade in his bosom.

Ch. 70	Sentence 2
Beck	My ideas have a source; my actions have a master. Because people do not understand this, they do not know me. Since few know me, I am very precious.
Blackney	My words have ancestors, my works a prince; Since none know this, unknown I too remain. But honour comes to me when least I'm known:
Bynner	If it were not the lasting way, the natural way to try, If it were a passing way, everyone would try it. But however few shall go my way Or feel concerned with me, Some there are and those are they Who witness what they see:
Byrn	My teachings come from the ancients, the things I do are done for a reason. Because you do not know me, you are not able to understand my teachings
Chan	My doctrines have a source (Nature); my deeds have a master (Tao). It is because people do not understand this that they do not understand me. Few people know me, and therefore I am highly valued.
Cleary	Sayings have a source, events have a leader. It is only through ignorance that I am not known. Those who know me are rare; those who emulate me a noble.
Crowley	My words derive from a creative and universal Principle, in accord with the One Law. Men, not knowing these, understand me not. Few are they that understand me; therefore am I the more to be valued.
Hansen	Language has an ancestor and social affairs have a ruler. In general only lacking know-how - this counts as my know-how. If those who know me are rare then things of mine are valuable.
LaFargue	The words have an ancestor the practice has a master. They just do not understand and so they do not understand me. (So few understand me - a rare treasure indeed.)
Legge	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 not know these, that men do not know me. They who know me are few, and I am on that account (the more) to be prized.
Lindauer	Words possess an ancestor Efforts possess a sovereign. In the end only with absence of knowledge Appropriate lack of self-knowledge happens Knowledge of that which is the self is rare And then that which is the self is treasured.
LinYutan	In my words there is a principle. In the affairs of men there is a system. Because they know not these, They also know me not. Since there are few that know me, Therefore I am distinguished.
Mabry	My words speak of the primal. My deeds are but service. Unless people understand this They won't understand me. And since so few understand me, Then such understanding is rare and valuable indeed.
McDonald	But some of my teaching could have nature as a source, and also there's a principle-ruled ancestry in some of my words. Yes, [some of] my deeds have a lord; my deeds could have [right] dao as sovereign. Most men don't understand this, they're unable to understand me. Few people understand me, and on this my real value depends. I am highly valued, for few understand me.
Merel	My words have meaning; my actions have reason; Yet these cannot be known and I cannot be known. We are each unique, and therefore valuable;
Mitchell	My teachings are older than the world. How can you grasp their meaning?
Muller	My words have an origin; My actions have a principle. It is only because of your not understanding this That you do not understand me. Since there are few who understand me I am valued.
Red Pine	words have an ancestor deeds have a master because they have no understanding people fail to understand me rare are they who understand me thus I am exalted
Ta-Kao	It is because they have knowledge that they do not know me. When those who know me are few, eventually I am beyond all praise.
Walker	Words have their ruler. Eventshave their origins. People wh can't understand this can't understand me. Those who do are few.
Wieger	My precepts and procedures derive from a superior principle and procedure, the Principle and its Virtue. The world does not recognize the Principle which directs me, that is why it does not know me. Very few understand me. That makes my glory.
World	My thoughts have always existed,but since people are confused, they do not embrace them. Because people do not understand me, they are confused in conflict and war rather than living in peace and harmony. Those that acknowledge their oneness with Infinity are few. Those that call me crazy are applauded by others that are confused.
Wu	My words have an Ancestor. My deeds have a Lord. The people have no knowledge of this. Therefore, they have no knowledge of me. The fewer persons know me, The nobler are they that follow me.

Ch. 70	Sentence 3
Beck	Therefore the wise wear coarse clothes and keep the jewel inside.
Blackney	The Wise Man, with a jewel in his breast, Goes clad in garments made of shoddy stuff.
Bynner	Sanity is a haircloth sheath With a jewel underneath.
Byrn	Because those who know me are few, my teachings become even more precious.
Chan	Therefore the sage wears a coarse cloth on top and carries jade within his bosom.
Cleary	This is why sages dress plainly, and conceal what is precious.
Crowley	The Wise Man wears sackcloth, but guards his jewel in his bosom.
Hansen	Using this: Sages wrap precious jade in burlap.
LaFargue	And so the Wise Person: Dressed in shabby clothes, jade under his shirt.
Legge	It is thus that the sage wears (a poor garb of) hair cloth, while he carries his (signet of) jade in his bosom.
Lindauer	Appropriately it happens that sages have A covering of coarse cloth A bosom of jade.
LinYutan	Therefore the Sage wears a coarse cloth on top And carries jade within his bosom.
Mabry	Therefore the Sage wears common clothes AAnd hides his treasures only in is heart.
McDonald	The wise man wears a coarse cloth on top and carries jade underneath his dress, within his bosom.
Merel	Though the sage wears coarse clothes, his heart is jade.
Mitchell	If you want to know me, look inside your heart.
Muller	Therefore the sage wears coarse clothes. Yet hides a jewel in his bosom.
Red Pine	the sage therefore wears coarse cloth and keeps his jade inside
Ta-Kao	Therefore the Sage wears clothes of coarse cloth but carries jewels in his bosom; He knows himself but does not display himself; He loves himself but does not hold himself in high esteem. Thus he rejects the latter and takes the former.
Walker	They wear coarse cloth and carry jade in their breasts.
Wieger	It befalls me to be like the Sage who is unrecognized from amongst the common people because of his humble appearance, even though his interior is filled with jewels.
World	Therefore, the sage is modest in her apparel, but carries the priceless jewel of peace and harmony in her heart.
Wu	Therefore, the Sage wears coarse clothes While keeping the jade in his bosom.