Lao-Tzu: Te-Tao Ching: A New Translation Based on the Recently Discovered Ma-wang tui Texts

by Lao Tzu

I do nothing, and the people of themselves are transformed; I love tranquility, and the people of themselves are upright; I’m unconcerned with affairs, and the people of themselves become rich; I desire not to desire, and the people of themselves are genuine and simple, like uncarved wood.

Actually, it’s not that evil spirits won’t have godlike power, It’s that their power will not harm men.

Therefore in the Sage’s desire to be above the people, He must in his speech be below them. And in his desire to be at the front of the people, He must in his person be behind them.

But when those who understand me are few, then I’m of great value.

The Way of Heaven is not to fight yet to be good at winning— Not to speak yet skillfully respond—

Therefore the Way of Heaven— Is to reduce the excessive and increase the insufficient; The Way of Man— Is to reduce the insufficient and offer more to the excessive.

“Tranquility”—This means to return to your fate. To return to your fate is to be constant; To know the constant is to be wise.

When trust is insufficient, there will be no trust in return. Hesitant, undecided! Like this is his respect for speaking. He completes his tasks and finishes his affairs, Yet the common people say, “These things all happened by nature.”

Eliminate craftiness, throw away profit, Then we will have no robbers and thieves.

One who boasts is not established; One who shows himself off does not become prominent; One who puts himself on display does not brightly shine; One who brags about himself gets no credit; One who praises himself does not long endure.

When multitudes of people are killed, we stand before them in sorrow and grief. When we’re victorious in battle, we treat the occasion like a funeral ceremony.