Tao Teh Ching - 60 Interactive Versions

#Click on a sentence 1 2 3 4 Chapter 79 Chapter 81 Back to index #

Ch. 80	Sentence 1
Beck	In a small country with few people machines that can work ten or a hundred times faster are not needed. People who care about death do not travel far.
Blackney	The ideal land is small Its people very few, Where tools abound Ten times or yet A hundred-fold Beyond their use; Where people die And die again But never emigrate;
Bynner	If a land is small and its people are few, With tenfold enough to heave and do, And if no one has schooled them to waste supply In the country for which they live and would die,
Byrn	Small countries with few people are best. Give them all of the things they want, and they will see that they do not need them. Teach them that death is a serious thing, and to be content to never leave their homes.
Chan	Let there be a small country with few people. Let there be ten times and a hundred times as many utensils. But let them not be used. Let the people value their lives highly and not migrate far.
Cleary	A small state has few people. It has the people keep arms but not use them. It has them regard death gravely and not go on distant campaigns.
Crowley	In a little kingdom of few people it should be the order that though there were men able to do the work of ten men or five score, they should not be employed. Though the people regarded death as sorrowful, yet they should not wish to go elsewhere.
Hansen	'Small' the state and 'few' the people. Bring about that having artifacts by the tens and hundreds yet they won't use them. Bring it about that the people "weight" death and don't venture far.
LaFargue	Oh for a small country with few people! Supposing there were men with the talents of dozens and hundreds, but no one employed them. Supposing the people took death seriously, and did not travel far distances.
Legge	In a little state with a small population, I would so order it, that, though there were individuals with the abilities of ten or a hundred men, there should be no employment of them; I would make the people, while looking on death as a grievous thing, yet not remove elsewhere (to avoid it).
Lindauer	A tiny nation, few people Suppose the presence of 10 or one hundred times too many tools Yet they are unused Suppose people heavy with death Yet lack moving far.
LinYutan	(Let there be) a small country with a small population, Where the supply of goods are tenfold or hundredfold, more than they can use. Let the people value their lives and not migrate far.
Mabry	It is best to have small communities with few people. Although they have goods and equipment in abundance few of them are even used. They have great love of life, and are content to be right where they are.
McDonald	Let there be a small country with few people. Let there be ten times and a hundred times as many utensils and let them not be used. Let there be contrivances requiring ten times, a hundred times less labour; they should not use them. Let the people value their lives highly and not travel far. Bring it about that the people are quite ready to lay down their lives at times to defend their homes rather than emigrate.
Merel	Let your community be small, with only a few people; Keep tools in abundance, but do not depend upon them; Appreciate your life and be content with your home;
Mitchell	If a country is governed wisely, its inhabitants will be content. They enjoy the labour of their hands and don't waste time inventing labour-saving machines. Since they dearly love their homes, they aren't interested in travel.
Muller	Let there be a small country with few people, Who, even having much machinery, don't use it. Who take death seriously and don't wander far away.
Red Pine	Imagine a small state with a small population let there be labour-saving tools that aren't used let people consider death and not move far
Ta-Kao	Supposing here is a small state with few people Though there are various vessels I will not have them put in use. I will make the people regard death as a grave matter and not go far away.
Walker	Let there be small countries with few people. Let the people have no use for complicated machinery. Let them be mindful of death so that they don't move too far from their birthplaces.
Wieger	If I were king of a little state, of a little people, I would take care to use (put in charge) the few dozen capable men that this state would contain.
World	A peaceful nation has few people and flows in harmony and oneness. They have weapons of war but they have no inclination to use them. They are indifferent to death and indifferent to living elsewhere.
Wu	Ah, for a small country with a small population! Though there are highly efficient mechanical contrivances, the people have no use for them. Let them mind death and refrain from migrating to distant places.

Ch. 80 Sentence 2

Beck Even if there are ships and carriages, no one takes them. Even if there are armor and weapons, no one displays them.

Blackney Have boats and carts Which no one rides. Weapons have they And armour too, But none displayed.

Bynner Then not a boat, not a cart Tempts this people to depart, Not a dagger, not a bow Has to be drawn or bent for show,

Byrn Even though they have plenty of horses, wagons and boats, they won't feel that they need to use them. Even if they have weapons and shields, they will keep them out of sight.

Chan Even if there are ships and carriages, none will ride in them. Even if there are arrows and weapons, none will display them.

Cleary Even if they have vehicles, they have nowhere to drive them. Even if they have weapons, they have nowhere to use them.

Crowley They should have boats and wagons, yet no necessity to travel; corslets and weapons, yet no occasion to fight.

Hansen Although they have boats and chariots, they don't have reasons to ride in them. Although they have armour and weapons, they don't have reasons to marshall them.

LaFargue Although there exist boats and carriages, they have no occasion to ride in them. Although there exist armour and weapons, they have no occasion to show them off.

Legge Though they had boats and carriages, they should have no occasion to ride in them; though they had buff coats and sharp weapons, they should have no occasion to don or use them.

Lindauer Even present with boats and carriages There is an absence of a place to be riding Even present with armor and weapons There is an absence of a place to be displaying them.

LinYutan Though there be boats and carriages, None be there to ride them. Though there be armor and weapons, No occasion to display them.

Mabry Although they have boats and carriages, there is no place they particularly want to go. And although they have access to weapons and machineries of war, they have no desire to show them off.

McDonald As for ships and carriages, let there be none to ride. There can still be weapons, but no one to drill seriously with them and none to display them often.

Merel Sail boats and ride horses, but don't go too far; Keep weapons and armour, but do not employ them;

Mitchell There may be a few wagons and boats, but these don't go anywhere. There may be an arsenal of weapons, but nobody ever uses them.

Muller Even though they have boats and carriages, they never ride in them. Having armour and weapons, they never go to war.

Red Pine let there be boats and carts but no reason to ride them let there be armour and weapons but no reason to employ them

Ta-Kao Though they have boats and carriages they will not travel in them; Though they have armour and weapons they will not show them.

Walker If there be boats and carriages, let there be nowhere to take them to. If there are weapons, let there be no occasion to display them.

Wieger I would prevent my subjects from traveling, by making them fear possible accidental death so much that they would not dare climb into a boat or carriage. I would prohibit all use of weapons.

World They have boats and carriages but seldom use them. They have weapons of war but no one displays them.

Wu Boats and carriages, weapons and armour there may still be, but there are no occasions for using or displaying them.

Ch. 80 Sentence 3

Beck People return to knotted rope for records. Food is tasty; clothes are beautiful; home is comfortable; customs are delightful.

Blackney The folk returns To use again The knotted chords. Their meat is sweet; Their clothes adorned, Their homes at peace, Their customs charm.

Bynner People reckon by knots in a cord, Relish plain food on the board, Simple clothing suits them well, And they remain content to dwell In homes their customs can afford.

Byrn Let people enjoy the simple technologies, let them enjoy their food, let them make their own clothes, let them be content with their own homes, and delight in the customs that they cherish.

Chan Let the people again knot cords and use them (in place of writing). Let them relish their food, beautify their clothing, be content with their homes, and delight in their customs.

Cleary It has the people go back to simple techniques, relish their food, like their clothes, be comfortable in their ways, and enjoy their work.

Crowley For communication they should use knotted cords. They should deem their food sweet, their clothes beautiful, their houses home; their customs delightful.

Hansen Bring it about that humans revert to knotting string and use that. 'Sweet' their food; 'beautiful' their clothing. 'Peaceful' their neighbourhoods; 'pleasant' their customs.

LaFargue Supposing people returned to knotting cords, and using this as writing. They find their food savoury they find their clothes elegant they are content with their homes they are fond of their folkways.

Legge I would make the people return to the use of knotted cords (instead of the written characters). They should think their (coarse) food sweet; their (plain) clothes beautiful; their (poor) dwellings places of rest; and their common (simple) ways sources of enjoyment.

Lindauer Suppose men return to knotting cords and using them What is eaten is sweet What serves as clothing is beautiful What is a home is peaceful What is common is joyful.

LinYutan Let the people again tie ropes for reckoning, Let them enjoy their food, Beautify their clothing, Be satisfied with their homes, Delight in their customs.

Mabry Let people return to simplicity, working with their own hands. Then they will find joy in their food Beauty in their simple clothes Peace in their living Fulfillment in their tradition.

McDonald People should have no use for any form of writing save knotted ropes: Let the people again knot cords for reckoning. Let them be very pleased with their food, beautify their clothing, be content with their homes, take pleasure in rustic tasks, and delight in such customs [just like Negroes].

Merel Let everyone read and write, Eat well and make beautiful things. Live peacefully and delight in your own society;

Mitchell People enjoy their food, take pleasure in being with their families, spend weekends working in their gardens, delight in the doings of the neighbourhood.

Muller Let them return to measurement by tying knots in rope. Sweeten their food, give them nice clothes, a peaceful abode and a relaxed life.

Red Pine let people return to the use of knots and be satisfied with their food and pleased with their clothing and content with their homes and happy with their customs

Ta-Kao I will let them restore the use of knotted cords (instead of writing). They will be satisfied with their food; Delighted in their dress; Comfortable in their dwellings; Happy with their customs.

Walker Let the people's responsibilities be few enough that they may remember them by knotting a string. Let them enjoy their food, be content with their clothes, be satisfied with their homes, and take pleasure in their customs.

Wieger As for writing and calculating, I would oblige them to go back to knotted cords. Then they would find their food tasty, their clothes fine, their houses peaceful, and their manners and customs agreeable.

World They live a simple life: their food is nourishing, their clothes are adequate, their dwellings are secure. They are at peace and in harmony with all things.

Wu Let the people revert to communication by knotting cords. See to it that they are contented with their food, pleased with their clothing, satisfied with their houses, and inured to their simple way of living.

Ch. 80 Sentence 4

Beck Though neighboring communities see each other and hear each other's cocks crowing and dogs barking, they may grow old and die without going there.

Blackney And neighbour lands Are juxtaposed So each may hear The barking dogs, The crowing cocks Across the way; Where folks grow old And folks will die And never once Exchange a call.

Bynner Though so close to their own town another town grow They can hear its dogs bark and its roosters crow, Yet glad of life in the village they know, Where else in the world shall they need to go?

Byrn Although the next country is close enough that they can hear their roosters crowing and dogs barking, they are content never to visit each other all of the days of their life.

Chan Though neighbouring communities overlook one another and the crowing of cocks and the barking of dogs can be heard, Yet the people there may grow old and die without ever visiting one another.

Cleary Neighboring states may be so close they can hear each other's dogs and roosters, but they make it o that the people have never gone back and forth.

Crowley There should be another state within view, so that its fowls and dogs should be heard; yet to old age, even to death, the people should hold no traffic with it.

Hansen Nearby states can see each other. And hear the sounds of each other's chickens and dogs. The peoples reach old age and death without any interaction.

LaFargue Neighbouring states are in sight of one another so they hear the sounds of each others' dogs and roosters - but people reach old age and die with no comings and goings between them.

Legge There should be a neighbouring state within sight, and the voices of the fowls and dogs should be heard all the way from it to us, but I would make the people to old age, even to death, not have any intercourse with it.

Lindauer Nearby nations overlook each other Crowing, barking sounds are heard by each other People reach old age and die Without coming and going between each other

LinYutan The neighboring settlements overlook one another So that they can hear the barking of dogs and crowing of cocks of their neighbors, And the people till the end of their days shall never have been outside their country.

Mabry And although they live within sight of neighbouring states And their roosters and dogs are heard by one another The people are content to grow old and die Without having gone to see their neighbour states.

McDonald The neighbouring place can be overlooked, can be so near that one may hear the cocks crowing in it, the dogs barking; but the people would grow old and die without ever having been there.

Merel Dwell within cock-crow of your neighbours, But maintain your independence from them.

Mitchell And even though the next country is so close that people can hear its roosters crowing and its dogs barking, they are content to die of old age without ever having gone to see it.

Muller Even though the next country can be seen and its dogs and chickens can be heard, The people will grow old and die without visiting each others land.

Red Pine let there be a state so near people hear its dogs and chickens and live out their lives without making a visit

Ta-Kao Though the neighbouring states are within sight And their cocks' crowing and dogs' barking within hearing; The people (of the small state) will not go there all their lives.

Walker Though the next country may be close enough to hear the barking of dogs and the crowing of its rooster, let the people grow old and die without feeling compelled to visit it.

Wieger (I would prevent curiosity and communication to the point where) my subjects would hear the noise of the cocks and dogs of the neighbouring state, but die from old age without having crossed the border and had relationships with the people there.

World Even though they live within sight of a neighboring nation and hear the sounds of dogs and children, they grow old and perish without ever desiring to go there.

Wu Though there may be another country in the neighbourhood so close that they are within sight of each other and the crowing of cocks and barking of dogs in one place can be heard in the other, yet there is no traffic between them, and throughout their lives the two peoples have nothing to do with each other.

Ch. 80	Sentence 2
Beck	Even if there are ships and carriages, no one takes them. Even if there are armor and weapons, no one displays them.
Blackney	Have boats and carts Which no one rides. Weapons have they And armour too, But none displayed.
Bynner	Then not a boat, not a cart Tempts this people to depart, Not a dagger, not a bow Has to be drawn or bent for show,
Byrn	Even though they have plenty of horses, wagons and boats, they won't feel that they need to use them. Even if they have weapons and shields, they will keep them out of sight.
Chan	Even if there are ships and carriages, none will ride in them. Even if there are arrows and weapons, none will display them.
Cleary	Even if they have vehicles, they have nowhere to drive them. Even if they have weapons, they have nowhere to use them.
Crowley	They should have boats and wagons, yet no necessity to travel; corslets and weapons, yet no occasion to fight.
Hansen	Although they have boats and chariots, they don't have reasons to ride in them. Although they have armour and weapons, they don't have reasons to marshall them.
LaFargue	Although there exist boats and carriages, they have no occasion to ride in them. Although there exist armour and weapons, they have no occasion to show them off.
Legge	Though they had boats and carriages, they should have no occasion to ride in them; though they had buff coats and sharp weapons, they should have no occasion to don or use them.
Lindauer	Even present with boats and carriages There is an absence of a place to be riding Even present with armor and weapons There is an absence of a place to be displaying them.
LinYutan	Though there be boats and carriages, None be there to ride them. Though there be armor and weapons, No occasion to display them.
Mabry	Although they have boats and carriages, there is no place they particularly want to go. And although they have access to weapons and machineries of war, they have no desire to show them off.
McDonald	As for ships and carriages, let there be none to ride. There can still be weapons, but no one to drill seriously with them and none to display them often.
Merel	Sail boats and ride horses, but don't go too far; Keep weapons and armour, but do not employ them;
Mitchell	There may be a few wagons and boats, but these don't go anywhere. There may be an arsenal of weapons, but nobody ever uses them.
Muller	Even though they have boats and carriages, they never ride in them. Having armour and weapons, they never go to war.
Red Pine	let there be boats and carts but no reason to ride them let there be armour and weapons but no reason to employ them
Ta-Kao	Though they have boats and carriages they will not travel in them; Though they have armour and weapons they will not show them.
Walker	If there be boats and carriages, let there be nowhere to take them to. If there are weapons, let there be no occasion to display them.
Wieger	I would prevent my subjects from traveling, by making them fear possible accidental death so much that they would not dare climb into a boat or carriage. I would prohibit all use of weapons.
World	They have boats and carriages but seldom use them. They have weapons of war but no one displays them.
Wu	Boats and carriages, weapons and armour there may still be, but there are no occasions for using or displaying them.

Ch. 80	Sentence 3
Beck	People return to knotted rope for records. Food is tasty; clothes are beautiful; home is comfortable; customs are delightful.
Blackney	The folk returns To use again The knotted chords. Their meat is sweet; Their clothes adorned, Their homes at peace, Their customs charm.
Bynner	People reckon by knots in a cord, Relish plain food on the board, Simple clothing suits them well, And they remain content to dwell In homes their customs can afford.
Byrn	Let people enjoy the simple technologies, let them enjoy their food, let them make their own clothes, let them be content with their own homes, and delight in the customs that they cherish.
Chan	Let the people again knot cords and use them (in place of writing). Let them relish their food, beautify their clothing, be content with their homes, and delight in their customs.
Cleary	It has the people go back to simple techniques, relish their food, like their clothes, be comfortable in their ways, and enjoy their work.
Crowley	For communication they should use knotted cords. They should deem their food sweet, their clothes beautiful, their houses home; their customs delightful.
Hansen	Bring it about that humans revert to knotting string and use that. 'Sweet' their food; 'beautiful' their clothing. 'Peaceful' their neighbourhoods; 'pleasant' their customs.
LaFargue	Supposing people returned to knotting cords, and using this as writing. They find their food savoury they find their clothes elegant they are content with their homes they are fond of their folkways.
Legge	I would make the people return to the use of knotted cords (instead of the written characters). They should think their (coarse) food sweet; their (plain) clothes beautiful; their (poor) dwellings places of rest; and their common (simple) ways sources of enjoyment.
Lindauer	Suppose men return to knotting cords and using them What is eaten is sweet What serves as clothing is beautiful What is a home is peaceful What is common is joyful.
LinYutan	Let the people again tie ropes for reckoning, Let them enjoy their food, Beautify their clothing, Be satisfied with their homes, Delight in their customs.
Mabry	Let people return to simplicity, working with their own hands. Then they will find joy in their food Beauty in their simple clothes Peace in their living Fulfillment in their tradition.
McDonald	People should have no use for any form of writing save knotted ropes: Let the people again knot cords for reckoning. Let them be very pleased with their food, beautify their clothing, be content with their homes, take pleasure in rustic tasks, and delight in such customs [just like Negroes].
Merel	Let everyone read and write, Eat well and make beautiful things. Live peacefully and delight in your own society;
Mitchell	People enjoy their food, take pleasure in being with their families, spend weekends working in their gardens, delight in the doings of the neighbourhood.
Muller	Let them return to measurement by tying knots in rope. Sweeten their food, give them nice clothes, a peaceful abode and a relaxed life.
Red Pine	let people return to the use of knots and be satisfied with their food and pleased with their clothing and content with their homes and happy with their customs
Ta-Kao	I will let them restore the use of knotted cords (instead of writing). They will be satisfied with their food; Delighted in their dress; Comfortable in their dwellings; Happy with their customs.
Walker	Let the people's responsibilities be few enough that they may remember them by knotting a string. Let them enjoy their food, be content with their clothes, be satisfied with their homes, and take pleasure in their customs.
Wieger	As for writing and calculating, I would oblige them to go back to knotted cords. Then they would find their food tasty, their clothes fine, their houses peaceful, and their manners and customs agreeable.
World	They live a simple life: their food is nourishing, their clothes are adequate, their dwellings are secure. They are at peace and in harmony with all things.
Wu	Let the people revert to communication by knotting cords. See to it that they are contented with their food, pleased with their clothing, satisfied with their houses, and inured to their simple way of living.

Ch. 80	Sentence 4
Beck	Though neighboring communities see each other and hear each other's cocks crowing and dogs barking, they may grow old and die without going there.
Blackney	And neighbour lands Are juxtaposed So each may hear The barking dogs, The crowing cocks Across the way; Where folks grow old And folks will die And never once Exchange a call.
Bynner	Though so close to their own town another town grow They can hear its dogs bark and its roosters crow, Yet glad of life in the village they know, Where else in the world shall they need to go?
Byrn	Although the next country is close enough that they can hear their roosters crowing and dogs barking, they are content never to visit each other all of the days of their life.
Chan	Though neighbouring communities overlook one another and the crowing of cocks and the barking of dogs can be heard, Yet the people there may grow old and die without ever visiting one another.
Cleary	Neighboring states may be so close they can hear each other's dogs and roosters, but they make it o that the people have never gone back and forth.
Crowley	There should be another state within view, so that its fowls and dogs should be heard; yet to old age, even to death, the people should hold no traffic with it.
Hansen	Nearby states can see each other. And hear the sounds of each other's chickens and dogs. The peoples reach old age and death without any interaction.
LaFargue	Neighbouring states are in sight of one another so they hear the sounds of each others' dogs and roosters - but people reach old age and die with no comings and goings between them.
Legge	There should be a neighbouring state within sight, and the voices of the fowls and dogs should be heard all the way from it to us, but I would make the people to old age, even to death, not have any intercourse with it.
Lindauer	Nearby nations overlook each other Crowing, barking sounds are heard by each other People reach old age and die Without coming and going between each other
LinYutan	The neighboring settlements overlook one another So that they can hear the barking of dogs and crowing of cocks of their neighbors, And the people till the end of their days shall never have been outside their country.
Mabry	And although they live within sight of neighbouring states And their roosters and dogs are heard by one another The people are content to grow old and die Without having gone to see their neighbour states.
McDonald	The neighbouring place can be overlooked, can be so near that one may hear the cocks crowing in it, the dogs barking; but the people would grow old and die without ever having been there.
Merel	Dwell within cock-crow of your neighbours, But maintain your independence from them.
Mitchell	And even though the next country is so close that people can hear its roosters crowing and its dogs barking, they are content to die of old age without ever having gone to see it.
Muller	Even though the next country can be seen and its dogs and chickens can be heard, The people will grow old and die without visiting each others land.
Red Pine	let there be a state so near people hear its dogs and chickens and live out their lives without making a visit
Ta-Kao	Though the neighbouring states are within sight And their cocks' crowing and dogs' barking within hearing; The people (of the small state) will not go there all their lives.
Walker	Though the next country may be close enough to hear the barking of dogs and the crowing of its rooster, let the people grow old and die without feeling compelled to visit it.
Wieger	(I would prevent curiosity and communication to the point where) my subjects would hear the noise of the cocks and dogs of the neighbouring state, but die from old age without having crossed the border and had relationships with the people there.
World	Even though they live within sight of a neighboring nation and hear the sounds of dogs and children, they grow old and perish without ever desiring to go there.
Wu	Though there may be another country in the neighbourhood so close that they are within sight of each other and the crowing of cocks and barking of dogs in one place can be heard in the other, yet there is no traffic between them, and throughout their lives the two peoples have nothing to do with each other.