31st Verse Weapons are the tools of violence; all decent men detest them. Therefore, followers of the Tao never use them. Arms serve evil. They are the tools of those who oppose wise rule. Use them only as a last resort. For peace and quiet are dearest to the decent man’s heart, and to him even a victory is no cause for rejoicing. He who thinks triumph beautiful is one with a will to kill, and one with a will to kill shall never prevail upon the world. It is a good sign when man’s higher nature comes forward. A bad sign when his lower nature comes forward. With the slaughter of multitudes, we
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