XXXIV
The great Tao flows everywhere, both to the left and to the right.
The ten thousand things depend upon it; it holds nothing back.
It fulfills its promise silently and makes no claim.
.
It nourishes the ten thousand things,
And yet is not their lord.
It has no aim; it is very small.
.
The ten thousand things return to it,
Yet it is not their lord.
It is very great.
It does not show greatness,
And is therefore truly great.
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XXX
Whenever you advise a ruler in the way of Tao,
Counsel him not to use force to conquer the universe,
For this would only cause resistance.
Thorn bushes spring up wherever an army has passed.
Lean years follow in the wake of a great war.
Just do what needs to be done.
Never take advantage of power.
.
Achieve results,
But never glory in them.
Achieve results,
But never boast.
Achieve results,
But never be proud.
Achieve results,
Because this is the natural way.
Achieve results,
But not through violence.
.
Force is followed by loss of strength.
This is not the way of Tao.
That which goes against the Tao
Comes to an early end.
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Tao Te Ching
by Lao Tzu
Translated by Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English
Retrieved from: http://terebess.hu/english/tao/gia.html
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Against the ruin of the world, there is only one defense: the creative act.
--Kenneth Rexroth.
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