English
fr
ar
bg
cs
da
de
el
es
fi
hu
id
it
he
ja
ko
nl
pl
pt
ro
ru
sk
sv
th
tr
uk
Chinese Text
天下皆谓我大，不肖。
夫唯大，故不肖。
若肖，久矣其细！
我有三宝，持而宝之：一曰慈，二曰俭，三曰不敢为天下先。
夫慈，故能勇；俭，故能广；不敢为天下先，故能成器长。
今舍慈且勇，舍俭且广，舍后且先，死矣。
夫慈，以战则胜，以守则固。
天将救之，以慈卫之.
Translation
In the world all call me eminent, but I resemble a foolish man.
It is only because I am eminent that I resemble a foolish man.
As for those called enlightened, their mediocrity has been known for a long time!
I possess three precious things: I hold and keep them like treasures.
The first is called kindness; the second is called frugality; the third is called humility, which prevents me from wanting to be first in the empire.
I have kindness, that is why I can be courageous.
I have frugality, that is why I can make great expenditures.
I dare not be first in the empire, that is why I can become the leader of all men.
But today, one abandons kindness for bravery; one abandons frugality for great expenditures; one abandons the last position to seek the first:
This is what leads to death.
If one fights with a heart full of kindness, one wins the victory; if one defends a city, it is impregnable.
When Heaven wants to save a man, it gives him kindness to protect him.
Notes
Literally: 'say my way is great.' B: The Sage applies his heart and will to one thing (the Tao). He knows nothing, he understands nothing. He appears stupid and resembles a stuttering man. He is so simple that one would take him for an ordinary and bewildered man. He conceals the brilliance of his wisdom, strips himself of caution, and practices the Tao.
I followed A, who renders the words 不肖 as 'stupid, lacking discernment', and who, further down, explains the word 肖 as 'intelligent, perspicacious, enlightened'.
Some commentators, like E, who follows Sou-tseu-yeou, explain the words 不肖 as 'unlike', that is to say different from beings, creatures. E: They (the men) praise his greatness and grieve that he does not resemble (the creatures). They ignore that if the Sage is great, it is because he does not resemble the creatures. If he resembled them, how could he be worthy of being called great?
Thus B: As for those whom the age calls enlightened, D: The words 久矣其细 should be constructed as: 其细久矣 .
E: It is like when one says: the man endowed with humanity does not encounter enemies. B: In the empire, no one resists me; therefore, I seem endowed with courage.
E: He who is frugal has excess.
E: He places himself after the multitude of men.
E: The entire empire pushes him forward and places him in the first rank.
H: The word 器 (commonly 'vessel') is often a 'general name to designate men and creatures'.
E divided the three words 成器长 into two parts: 'This is why he perfects his abilities, and becomes the leader of the empire', 为天下器长 .
E: The word 今 'now' designates the men contemporary with Lao-tseu.
B: They become violent and inflexible. Violent and inflexible men (says Lao-tseu, chap. XLII) do not die of natural death.
A: Peoples attach themselves to an affectionate and humane prince; they associate with him heart and soul. If he wages a battle, no one (B) can resist him; if he defends a city, no one can attack him successfully; it is impregnable. This passage shows (E) that he who is affectionate and humane is supported and protected by other men.
E: Affection is the principal (literally 'the head') of the three precious things that Lao-tseu speaks of. This is why he mentions it several times. He who is endowed with affection does not harm creatures; he tenderly protects the people, and the people cherish him as a father and mother; his virtue can touch the sky. When the sky wants to deliver him from danger, it protects him with affection. It does not allow enemies to harm him. The words 'it protects him with affection' show that the man endowed with affection for creatures is protected by the sky.
Following Sou-tseu-yeou, the words 'it protects him with affection' show that, the Sage being affectionate and humane towards creatures, they give him the help and support he may need, as if one said: The sky gives him humane and affectionate feelings that procure him the support and protection of the entire empire.
