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Lao Tzu for Everyone

Students, Scholars

& Seekers

Peter Gilboy, Ph.D.

1200px-Dao-character.svg.png

             第 二十

Line 1  將欲取天下而為之

Line 2  吾見其弗得已

              

Line 3  夫天下神器也

      非可爲者也

 

   

 

 

 

Line 5  物或行或隨

       或炅或吹

       或強或羸

       或陪或撱

Line 6  是以聖人去甚

       去大去諸

 

Tao

the Way

LESSON 29

Controlling

the World

 

 

 

 

      It is not only dictators who are ambitious for control. Sincere and well-intentioned people can be just as ambitious for power, incorporating their many plans to “fix things up,” and make everything right.

  

Click on each line number

 for Chinese-English interlinear

& commentary

1.

As for those who

want to take control

of the world

   and act upon it . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.

. . . I see that they

cannot succeed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

​​​​​​​​​​​3.

For the world is

a sacred vessel

and not something
that can be acted upon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.

Those who act upon the world

only destroy it,

and those who would

seized control of the world

only lose it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.

When it comes to things

some go forth

and some follow,

some run hot

and some run cold,

some are strong

and some are weak,

some increase

and some decrease.

 

 

 

 

6.

That is why the sage

avoids extremes,

avoids arrogance,
and avoids excess.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

 

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​. . . . . . .

 

 

 

​​

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          Peter Gilboy, Ph.D.
      all rights reserved 2022

Comments are welcome: Thank you.

 

Work in progress.

Thank you for your interest.

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