Tao Teh Ching - 60 Interactive Versions

#Click on a sentence 1 2 3 Chapter 71 Chapter 73 Back to index #

Ch. 72	Sentence 1
Beck	When people lack a sense of awe, then something awful will happen.
Blackney	If people do not dread your majesty, A greater dread will yet descend on them.
Bynner	Upon those who defy authority It shall be visited,
Byrn	When people become overly bold, then disaster will soon arrive.
Chan	When the people do not fear what is dreadful, Then what is greatly dreadful will fall upon them.
Cleary	When the people are not awed by authority, then great authority is attained.
Crowley	When men fear no that which is to be feared, that which they fear will comes upon them.
Hansen	If the people do not fear authority then great authority has arrived.
LaFargue	When the people are not in awe of your majesty then great majesty has been achieved.
Legge	When the people do not fear what they ought to fear, that which is their great dread will come on them.
Lindauer	People lack respect for impressive strength And then greatly impressive strength is reached.
LinYutan	When people have no fear of force, Then (as is the common practice) great force descends upon them.
Mabry	When people lose their fear of power Then great power has indeed arrived.
McDonald	If the people hardly fear what's dreadful, something greatly dreadful could descend. If people have no fear of force, then great force descends. So never mind if people are not intimidated by your authority. Some mightier authority could deal with them in the long run.
Merel	When people have nothing more to lose, Then revolution will result.
Mitchell	When they lose their sense of awe, people turn to religion.
Muller	When the people do not fear your might Then your might has truly become great.
Red Pine	When people no longer fear authority a greater authority will appear
Ta-Kao	If the people have no fear of their ruling authority, still greater fear will come.
Walker	If people fear your power, then you don't really have any.
Wieger	Those (who expose themselves to danger through curiosity, love of gain, or ambition) should be afraid when they are not afraid. For they are lost.
World	When people are not in awe of the Infinite, they are overwhelmed by confusion.
Wu	When the people no longer fear your power, It is a sign that a greater power is coming.

Ch. 72 Sentence 2

Beck Do not constrict people's living space. Do not suppress their livelihoods. If you do not harass them, they will not harass you.

Blackney See then you do not cramp their dwelling place, Or immolate their children or their stock, Nor anger them by your own angry ways.

Bynner But not behind prison walls Nor through oppression of their kin; Men sanely led Are not led by duress.

Byrn Do not meddle with people's livelihood; by respecting them they will in turn respect you.

Chan Do not reduce the living space of their dwellings. Do no oppress their lives. It is because you do not oppress them that they are not oppressed.

Cleary Their homes are not small to them, their livelihood not tiresome. Just because they do not tire of it, it is not tiresome to them.

Crowley Let them not live, without thought, the superficial life. Let them not weary of the Spring of Life! By avoiding the superficial life, this weariness comes not upon thee.

Hansen Don't toy around with things they are at home with. Don't despise things that contribute to their livelihood. In general, only if you don't despise [them], using this [they] will not despise [you].

LaFargue Do not restrict where they can live do not tire them out by taxing what they live on. Simply do not tire them and they will not tire of you.

Legge Let them not thoughtlessly indulge themselves in their ordinary life; let them not act as if weary of what that life depends on. It is by avoiding such indulgence that such weariness does not arise.

Lindauer An absence of improper familiarity for what is their place of residence An absence of detesting what is their place of living In the end only without detesting Appropriate lack of detesting happens

LinYutan Despise not their dwellings, Dislike not their progeny. Because you do not dislike them, You will not be disliked yourself.

Mabry Do not intrude on people's material living. Do not despise their spiritual lives, either. If you respect them, you will be respected.

McDonald Neither despise their dwellings nor narrow the living space of their dwellings. They could cease to turn away if you don't put them in jail. Don't dislike their offspring, harass or oppress their lives. Don't harass them, and they could cease to turn from you. Drop heavy taxes, and the people won't be fed up. If you don't persecute all, you'll hardly be so much disliked. They're not oppressed if you refrain from gross oppressive measures.

Merel Do not take away their lands, And do not destroy their livelihoods; If your burden is not heavy then they will not shirk it.

Mitchell When they no longer trust themselves, they begin to depend upon authority.

Muller Don't interfere with their household affairs. Don't oppress their livelihood. If you don't oppress them they won't feel oppressed.

Red Pine don't restrict where people dwell don't repress how people live if they aren't repressed they won't protest

Ta-Kao Be sure not to give them too narrow a dwelling; Nor make their living scanty. Only when their dwelling place is no longer narrow will their dissatisfaction come to an end.

Walker Leave them alone in their homes. Respect them in their lives, and they won't grow weary of you.

Wieger Do not consider your place of birth too restricting, do not become dissatisfied with the condition in which you were born. (Stay what you are and where you are. The effort to seek for better could perhaps cause you to lose you way). One does not become dissatisfied, if one does not wish to become so. (Dissatisfaction is always voluntary, coming from preparing one's situation with another, and having preference for the other).

World Do not violate another's space. Do not interfere with another's livelihood. If you do not violate their space or interfere with their livelihood, they will not separate themselves from you.

Wu Interfere not lightly with their dwelling, Nor lay heavy burdens upon their livelihood. Only when you cease to weary them, They will cease to be wearied of you.

Ch. 72 Sentence 3

Beck Therefore the wise know themselves but do not display themselves. They love themselves but do not exalt themselves. They let go of one and accept the other.

Blackney It is the Wise Man's way to know himself, And never to reveal his inward thoughts; He loves himself but so, is not set up; He chooses this in preference to that.

Bynner To know yourself and not show yourself, To think well of yourself and not tell of yourself, Be that your no and your yes.

Byrn Therefore, the Master knows herself but is not arrogant. She loves herself but also loves others. This is how she is able to make appropriate choices.

Chan Therefore the sage knows himself but does not show himself. He loves himself but does not exalt himself. Therefore he rejects the one but accepts the other.

Cleary Therefore sages know themselves but do not see themselves. They take care of themselves but do not exalt themselves. So they take one and leave the other.

Crowley These things the wise man knows, not shows; he loves himself, without isolating his value. He accepts the former and rejects the latter.

Hansen Using this: Sages start from what they know to do not from what they see. Start from love not from value. So they choose this and reject that.

LaFargue And so, the Wise Person: Knows himself does not make a show of himself. Loves himself does not exalt himself. Yes, he leaves 'that' aside, and attends to 'this.'

Legge Therefore the sage knows (these things) of himself, but does not parade (his knowledge); loves, but does not (appear to set a) value on, himself. And thus he puts the latter alternative away and makes choice of the former.

Lindauer Appropriately it happens that sages Know themselves without displaying themselves Are fond of themselves without treasuring themselves. So detach from that, grab this.

LinYutan Therefore the Sage knows himself, but does not show himself, Loves himself, but does not exalt himself. Therefore he rejects the one (force) and accepts the other (gentility).

Mabry Therefore the Sage knows himself, but he is not opinionated. He loves himself, but he is not arrogant. He lets go of conceit and opinion, and embraces self-knowledge and love.

McDonald So the wise man knows himself but hardly shows off. Knows his own value, but doesn't exalt himself. Truly, "he rejects the one (brute force or enemicy) but accepts or takes the other (being some kind, sturdy neighbour)."

Merel The sage maintains himself but exacts no tribute, Values himself but requires no honours; He ignores abstraction and accepts substance.

Mitchell Therefore the Master steps back so that people won't be confused. He teaches without a teaching, so that people will have nothing to learn.

Muller Thus the sage understands herself But does not show herself. Loves herself But does not prize herself. Therefore she lets go of that And takes this.

Red Pine thus the sage knows himself but doesn't reveal himself he loves himself but doesn't exalt himself thus he picks this over that

Ta-Kao

Walker The sage knows herself, but doesn't dwell on herself; Loves herself, but no more than she loves everyone else. She adopts the concerns of heaven as her own.

Wieger The Sage knows his worth but does not show it, (he does not feel the need to show it off). He respects himself but does not try to be esteemed. He discerns, adopting this, and rejecting that (after the light of his wisdom).

World The sage acknowledges herself but does not distinguish herself from others. She lives her reality but does not try to foist it on others. She makes her choices but is indifferent and unattached and therefore lives in peace and harmony.

Wu Therefore, the Sage knows himself, But makes no show of himself; Loves himself, But does not exalt himself. He prefers what is within to what is without.

Ch. 72	Sentence 2
Beck	Do not constrict people's living space. Do not suppress their livelihoods. If you do not harass them, they will not harass you.
Blackney	See then you do not cramp their dwelling place, Or immolate their children or their stock, Nor anger them by your own angry ways.
Bynner	But not behind prison walls Nor through oppression of their kin; Men sanely led Are not led by duress.
Byrn	Do not meddle with people's livelihood; by respecting them they will in turn respect you.
Chan	Do not reduce the living space of their dwellings. Do no oppress their lives. It is because you do not oppress them that they are not oppressed.
Cleary	Their homes are not small to them, their livelihood not tiresome. Just because they do not tire of it, it is not tiresome to them.
Crowley	Let them not live, without thought, the superficial life. Let them not weary of the Spring of Life! By avoiding the superficial life, this weariness comes not upon thee.
Hansen	Don't toy around with things they are at home with. Don't despise things that contribute to their livelihood. In general, only if you don't despise [them], using this [they] will not despise [you].
LaFargue	Do not restrict where they can live do not tire them out by taxing what they live on. Simply do not tire them and they will not tire of you.
Legge	Let them not thoughtlessly indulge themselves in their ordinary life; let them not act as if weary of what that life depends on. It is by avoiding such indulgence that such weariness does not arise.
Lindauer	An absence of improper familiarity for what is their place of residence An absence of detesting what is their place of living In the end only without detesting Appropriate lack of detesting happens
LinYutan	Despise not their dwellings, Dislike not their progeny. Because you do not dislike them, You will not be disliked yourself.
Mabry	Do not intrude on people's material living. Do not despise their spiritual lives, either. If you respect them, you will be respected.
McDonald	Neither despise their dwellings nor narrow the living space of their dwellings. They could cease to turn away if you don't put them in jail. Don't dislike their offspring, harass or oppress their lives. Don't harass them, and they could cease to turn from you. Drop heavy taxes, and the people won't be fed up. If you don't persecute all, you'll hardly be so much disliked. They're not oppressed if you refrain from gross oppressive measures.
Merel	Do not take away their lands, And do not destroy their livelihoods; If your burden is not heavy then they will not shirk it.
Mitchell	When they no longer trust themselves, they begin to depend upon authority.
Muller	Don't interfere with their household affairs. Don't oppress their livelihood. If you don't oppress them they won't feel oppressed.
Red Pine	don't restrict where people dwell don't repress how people live if they aren't repressed they won't protest
Ta-Kao	Be sure not to give them too narrow a dwelling; Nor make their living scanty. Only when their dwelling place is no longer narrow will their dissatisfaction come to an end.
Walker	Leave them alone in their homes. Respect them in their lives, and they won't grow weary of you.
Wieger	Do not consider your place of birth too restricting, do not become dissatisfied with the condition in which you were born. (Stay what you are and where you are. The effort to seek for better could perhaps cause you to lose you way). One does not become dissatisfied, if one does not wish to become so. (Dissatisfaction is always voluntary, coming from preparing one's situation with another, and having preference for the other).
World	Do not violate another's space. Do not interfere with another's livelihood. If you do not violate their space or interfere with their livelihood, they will not separate themselves from you.
Wu	Interfere not lightly with their dwelling, Nor lay heavy burdens upon their livelihood. Only when you cease to weary them, They will cease to be wearied of you.

Ch. 72	Sentence 3
Beck	Therefore the wise know themselves but do not display themselves. They love themselves but do not exalt themselves. They let go of one and accept the other.
Blackney	It is the Wise Man's way to know himself, And never to reveal his inward thoughts; He loves himself but so, is not set up; He chooses this in preference to that.
Bynner	To know yourself and not show yourself, To think well of yourself and not tell of yourself, Be that your no and your yes.
Byrn	Therefore, the Master knows herself but is not arrogant. She loves herself but also loves others. This is how she is able to make appropriate choices.
Chan	Therefore the sage knows himself but does not show himself. He loves himself but does not exalt himself. Therefore he rejects the one but accepts the other.
Cleary	Therefore sages know themselves but do not see themselves. They take care of themselves but do not exalt themselves. So they take one and leave the other.
Crowley	These things the wise man knows, not shows; he loves himself, without isolating his value. He accepts the former and rejects the latter.
Hansen	Using this: Sages start from what they know to do not from what they see. Start from love not from value. So they choose this and reject that.
LaFargue	And so, the Wise Person: Knows himself does not make a show of himself. Loves himself does not exalt himself. Yes, he leaves 'that' aside, and attends to 'this.'
Legge	Therefore the sage knows (these things) of himself, but does not parade (his knowledge); loves, but does not (appear to set a) value on, himself. And thus he puts the latter alternative away and makes choice of the former.
Lindauer	Appropriately it happens that sages Know themselves without displaying themselves Are fond of themselves without treasuring themselves. So detach from that, grab this.
LinYutan	Therefore the Sage knows himself, but does not show himself, Loves himself, but does not exalt himself. Therefore he rejects the one (force) and accepts the other (gentility).
Mabry	Therefore the Sage knows himself, but he is not opinionated. He loves himself, but he is not arrogant. He lets go of conceit and opinion, and embraces self-knowledge and love.
McDonald	So the wise man knows himself but hardly shows off. Knows his own value, but doesn't exalt himself. Truly, "he rejects the one (brute force or enemicy) but accepts or takes the other (being some kind, sturdy neighbour)."
Merel	The sage maintains himself but exacts no tribute, Values himself but requires no honours; He ignores abstraction and accepts substance.
Mitchell	Therefore the Master steps back so that people won't be confused. He teaches without a teaching, so that people will have nothing to learn.
Muller	Thus the sage understands herself But does not show herself. Loves herself But does not prize herself. Therefore she lets go of that And takes this.
Red Pine	thus the sage knows himself but doesn't reveal himself he loves himself but doesn't exalt himself thus he picks this over that
Ta-Kao
Walker	The sage knows herself, but doesn't dwell on herself; Loves herself, but no more than she loves everyone else. She adopts the concerns of heaven as her own.
Wieger	The Sage knows his worth but does not show it, (he does not feel the need to show it off). He respects himself but does not try to be esteemed. He discerns, adopting this, and rejecting that (after the light of his wisdom).
World	The sage acknowledges herself but does not distinguish herself from others. She lives her reality but does not try to foist it on others. She makes her choices but is indifferent and unattached and therefore lives in peace and harmony.
Wu	Therefore, the Sage knows himself, But makes no show of himself; Loves himself, But does not exalt himself. He prefers what is within to what is without.