Oriente

Waley
The impunity of things fraught with the “power” May be likened to that of an infant. Poisonous insects do not sting it, Nor fierce beasts seize it, Nor clawing birds maul it, Its bones are soft, its sinews weak; but its grip is strong. Not yet to have known the union of male and female, But to be completely formed, Means that the vital force is at its height; To be able to scream all day without getting hoarse Means that the harmony is at its perfection. To understand such harmony is (…)

Waley
What Tao plants cannot be plucked, What Tao clasps, cannot slip. By its virtue alone can one generation after another carry on the ancestrial sacrifice. Apply it to yourself and by its power you will be freed from dross. Apply it to your household and your household shall thereby have abundance. Apply it to the village, and the village will be made secure. Apply it to the kingdom, and the kingdom shall thereby be made to flourish. Apply it to an empire, and the empire shall thereby (…)

Waley
He who has the least scrap of sense, Once he has got started on the great highway has nothing to fear So long as he avoids turnings. For great highways are safe and easy. But men love by-paths. So long as Court is in order They are content to let their fields run to weed And their granaries stand empty. They wear patterns and embroideries, Carry sharp swords, glut themselves with drink and food, Have more possessions than they can use. These are the riotous ways of brigandage; they (…)

Waley
That which was the beginning of all things under heaven We may speak of as the “mother” of all things. He who apprehends the mother Thereby knows the sons. And he who has known the sons, Will hold all the tighter to the mother, And to the end of his days suffer no harm; “Block the passages, shut the doors, And till the end your strength shall not fail. Open up the passages, increase your doings, And till your last day no help shall come to you.” As good sight means seeing what is (…)

Waley
Tao gave them birth; The “power” of Tao reared them, Shaped them according to their kinds, Perfected them, giving to each its strength. Therefore Of the ten thousand things there is not one that does not worship Tao And do homage to its “power”. No mandate ever went forth that accorded to Tao the right to be worshipped, Nor to its “power” the right to be worshipped, Nor to its “power” the right to receive homage. It was always and of itself so. Therefore as Tao bore them and the (…)

Waley
He who aims at life achieves death. If the “companions of life” are thirteen, So likewise are the “companions of death” thirteen. How is it that the “death-stops” in man’s life And activity are also thirteen? It is because men feed life too grossly. It is said that he who has a true hold on life, When he walks on land does not meet tigers or wild buffaloes; In battle he is not touched by weapons of war. Indeed, A buffalo that attacked him would find nothing for its horns to butt, A (…)

Waley
The Sage has no heart of his own; He uses the heart of the people as his heart. Of the good man I approve, But of the bad I also approve, And thus he gets goodness. The truthful man I believe, but the liar I also believe, And thus he gets truthfulness. The Sage, in the dealings with the world, seems like one dazed with fright; For the world’s sake be dulls his wits. The Hundred Families all the time strain their eyes and ears, The Sage all the time sees and hears no more than an (…)

Waley
Learning consists in adding to one’s stock day by day; The practice of Tao consists in “subtracting day by day, Subtracting and yet again subtracting Till one has reached inactivity. But by this very inactivity Everything can be activated.” Those who of old won the adherence of all who live under heaven All did so not interfering. Had they interfered, They would never have won this adherence.
Wieger
A. Par l’étude, on multiplie chaque jour (dans sa mémoire les notions (…)

Waley
Without leaving his door He knows everything under heaven. Without looking out of his window He knows all the ways of heaven. For the further one travels The less one knows. Therefore the Sage arrives without going, Sees all without looking, Does nothing, yet achieves everything.
Wieger
A. Sans sortir par la porte, on peut connaître tout le monde ; sans regarder par la fenêtre, on peut se rendre compte des voies du ciel (principes qui régissent toutes choses). — Plus on va (…)

Waley
When there is Tao in the empire The galloping steeds are turned back to fertilize the ground by their droppings. When there is not Tao in the empire War horses will be reared even on the sacred mounds below the city walls. (No lure is greater than to possess what others want,) No disaster greater than not to be content with what one has, No presage of evil greater than men should be wanting to get more. Truly: “He who has once known the contentment that comes simply through being (…)