Chapter 63 – Difficulty Act without action. Do without ado. Taste without tasting. Whether it is big or small, many or few, repay hatred with virtue. Prepare for the difficult while it is still easy. Deal with the big while it is still small. Difficult undertakings have always started with what is easy. And greatContinue reading “CHAPTER 63 – DIFFICULTY”
Category Archives: Tao Te Ching
CHAPTER 62 – REFUGE
Chapter 62 – Refuge Tao is the storehouse of all things. It is the good man’s treasure and the bad man’s refuge. Fine words can buy honour, And fine deeds can gain respect from others. Even if a man is bad, when has (Tao) rejected him? Therefore on the occasion of crowning an emperor orContinue reading “CHAPTER 62 – REFUGE”
CHAPTER 61 – HUDDLED MASSES
Chapter 61 – Huddled Masses A great state, one that lowly flows, becomes the empire’s union, and the empire’s wife. The wife always through quietude conquers her husband, and by quietude renders herself lowly. Thus a great state through lowliness toward small states will conquer the small states, and small states through lowliness toward greatContinue reading “CHAPTER 61 – HUDDLED MASSES”
CHAPTER 60 – GHOSTS: EVIL, BOO EVIL
Chapter 60 – Ghosts: Evil, Boo Evil Govern a great country as you would fry small fish: [neither gut nor scale them.] If with Reason the empire is managed, its ghosts will not spook. Not only will its ghosts not spook, but its gods will not harm the people. Not only will its gods notContinue reading “CHAPTER 60 – GHOSTS: EVIL, BOO EVIL”
CHAPTER 59 – STORING VIRTUE
Chapter 59 – Storing Virtue While ruling the people And serving heaven Build up a store. If you’ve built up a store You can adhere to Tao early. If you’ve adhered to Tao early You can amass virtue. When you’ve amassed virtue There is nothing you cannot do. When there is nothing you cannot doContinue reading “CHAPTER 59 – STORING VIRTUE”
CHAPTER 58 – LAID BACK
Chapter 58 – Laid Back When a nation is ruled with a light touch, people lead simple lives. When a government is harsh and demanding, people will spend their time trying to outsmart it. Happiness is rooted in misery, and misery lurks beneath all joy. Who knows what could happen tomorrow? Everything isContinue reading “CHAPTER 58 – LAID BACK”
CHAPTER 57 – GOVERN BEST, GOVERN LEAST
Chapter 57 – Govern Best, Govern Least Govern the state with correctness. Operate the army with surprise tactics. Administer the empire by engaging in no activity. How do I know that this should be so? Through this: The more taboos and prohibitions there are in the world, The poorer the people will be. The moreContinue reading “CHAPTER 57 – GOVERN BEST, GOVERN LEAST”
CHAPTER 56 – ONE WHO KNOWS DOES NOT SPEAK
Chapter 56 – One Who Knows Does Not Speak Those who know, don’t talk. Those who talk, don’t know. Shut your mouth. Be still. Relax. Let go of your worries. Stay out of the spotlight. Be at one with the world and get right with Tao. If you get right with Tao, you won’t beContinue reading “CHAPTER 56 – ONE WHO KNOWS DOES NOT SPEAK”
CHAPTER 55 – INNOCENCE
Chapter 55 – Innocence He who is filled with Virtue is like a newborn child. Wasps and serpents will not sting him; Wild beasts will not pounce upon him; He will not be attacked by birds of prey. His bones are soft, his muscles weak, But his grip is firm. He has not experienced theContinue reading “CHAPTER 55 – INNOCENCE”
CHAPTER 54 – HOW DO YOU KNOW?
Chapter 54 – How do You Know? He who is well established (in Tao) cannot be pulled away. He who has a firm grasp (of Tao) cannot be separated from it. Thus from generation to generation his ancestral sacrifice will never be suspended. When one cultivates virtue in his person, it becomes genuine virtue. WhenContinue reading “CHAPTER 54 – HOW DO YOU KNOW?”
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