Tao Teh Ching - 60 Interactive Versions

#Click on a sentence 1 2 3 4 5 Chapter 60 Chapter 62 Back to index #

Ch. 61	Sentence 1
Beck	A large country is like low land where rivers flow, a place where everything comes together, the female of all. The female overcomes the male with tranquillity. Tranquillity is underneath.
Blackney	The great land is a place To which the streams descend; It is the concourse and The female of the world: Quiescent, underneath, It overcomes the male.
Bynner	A large country is the low level of interflowing rivers. It draws people to the sea-end of a valley As the female draws the male, Receives it into absorbing depth Because depth always absorbs.
Byrn	A large country should take the low place like a great watershed, which from its low position assumes the female role. The female overcomes the male by the power of her position. Her tranquillity gives rise to her humility.
Chan	A big country may be compared to the lower part of a river. It is the converging point of the world; It is the female of the world. The female always overcomes the male by tranquillity, And by tranquillity she is underneath.
Cleary	A great nation flows downward into intercourse with the world. The female of the world always prevails over the male by stillness.
Crowley	A state becomes powerful when it resembles a great river, deep-seated; to it tend all the small streams under Heaven. It is as with the female, that conquers the male by her Silence. Silence is a form of Gravitation.
Hansen	Those which are great states flow downward. The interchanges in the social world! The female of the social world! The female constants using stillness. She conquer the male using stillness to act out 'beneath'.
LaFargue	The great state is a low and easy woman for the world the one the Whole world unites with. Femininity always overcomes Masculinity, by Stillness, in Stillness it takes the low place.
Legge	What makes a great state is its being (like) a low-lying, down-flowing (stream); - it becomes the center to which tend (all the small states) under heaven. (To illustrate from) the case of all females:--the female always overcomes the male by her stillness. Stillness may be considered (a sort of) abasement.
Lindauer	Those which are great nations flow and spread lower The intersection of the world The female of the world. The female entirely conquers the male through stillness
LinYutan	A big country (should be like) the delta low-regions, Being the concourse of the world, (And) the Female of the world. The Female overcomes the Male by quietude, And achieves the lowly position by quietude.
Mabry	A great country is like a low-lying lake where many rivers converge; A focal point for the Earth, the feminine Spirit of the World. The female always overcomes the male by stillness. Stillness is the lowest position.
McDonald	A big kingdom can be compared to the lower part of a river, like the low ground which all streams flow down towards. Here is a point towards which all things under heaven converge. Its part must be that of the woman who overcomes man by simple quietude. By [such as] quiescence she gets underneath, and by tranquillity she is down under.
Merel	A nation is like a hierarchy, a marketplace, and a maiden. A maiden wins her husband by submitting to his advances; Submission is a means of union.
Mitchell	When a country obtains great power, it becomes like the sea: all streams run downward into it. The more powerful it grows, the greater the need for humility. Humility means trusting the Tao, thus never needing to be defensive.
Muller	The great state should be like a river basin. The mixing place of the world, The feminine of the world. The feminine always overcomes the masculine by softness Because softness is lesser.
Red Pine	The great state is a watershed the confluence of the world the female of the world through stillness the female conquers the male in order to be still she needs to be lower
Ta-Kao	A great state is the world's low-stream (to which all the river flows down), the world's field and the world's female. The female always conquers the male by quietude, which is employed as a means to lower oneself.
Walker	A great country is like a low-lying land into which many streams flow. It draws powerful energies to it as a receptive woman draws an eager man. The feminine can always conquer the masculine by yielding and taking the lower position. In this way she becomes as low-lying land: in time, everything comes her way.
Wieger	If a great state lowers itself, like those holes in which water accumulates, everyone will come to it. It will belike the universal female. In her apparent passivity and inferiority, the female is superior to the male (for it is she who gives birth).
World	The great nation is like the ocean, at one with Infinity, it receives all waters in peace and harmony. The female integrates the male by residing in peace and harmony
Wu	A great country is like the lowland toward which all streams flow. It is the Reservoir of all under heaven, the Feminine of the world. The Feminine always conquers the Masculine by her quietness, by lowering herself through her quietness.

Ch. 61 Sentence 2

Beck A large country wins over a small country by placing itself below the small country. A small country wins over a large country by placing itself below the large country.

Blackney By quietness and by humility The great land then puts down the small And gets it for its own; But small lands too absorb the great By their subservience.

Bynner And so a large country, inasfar as it is deeper than a small country, Absorbs the small - Or a small country, inasfar as it is deeper than a large country, Absorbs the large.

Byrn If a large country takes the low position, it will be able to influence smaller countries.

Chan A big state can take over a small state if it places itself below the small state; And the small state can take over a big state if it places itself below the big state.

Cleary Because stillness is considered lower, by lowering itself to a small nation a great nation takes a small nation; by being lower than a great nation a small nation takesa gret nation.

Crowley Thus a great state attracts small states by meeting their views, and the small state attracts the great state by revering its eminence.

Hansen Hence if great states use 'beneath' on small states, then they take small states. If small states use 'beneath' on great states, then they take great states.

LaFargue Yes: A great state, by putting itself lower than the smaller state, will win out over the smaller state. A small state, by putting itself lower than the great state, will win out over the great state.

Legge Thus it is that a great state, by condescending to small states, gains them for itself; and that small states, by abasing themselves to a great state, win it over to them.

Lindauer It happens that stillness acts lower. So when a great nation is lower than a tiny nation It next grabs the tiny nation When a tiny nation is lower than a great nation It next grabs the great nation.

LinYutan Therefore if a big country places itself below a small country It absorbs the small country. (And) if a small country places itself below a big country, It absorbs the big country.

Mabry Therefore a big country, By placing itself below a smaller country Will win the smaller country. And a small country, By placing itself below a larger country Will gain the large country.

McDonald A big kingdom can take over [a soul of] a small one if it succeeds in getting itself below the small kingdom; If so it absorbs some from the small country, or wins some adherence of the small kingdom in the open.

Merel So when a large country submits to a small country It will adopt the small country; When a small country submits to a large country It will be adopted by the large country;

Mitchell A great nation is like a great man: When he makes a mistake, he realizes it. Having realized it, he admits it. Having admitted it, he corrects it.

Muller Therefore if a large state serves a small state It will gain the small state. If a small state serves a large state It will gain the large state.

Red Pine the great state that is lower governs the small state the small state that is lower is governed by the great state

Ta-Kao Thus a great state lowers itself towards a small state before it takes over the small state. A small state lowers itself towards a great state before it takes over the great state.

Walker Therefore a great country can win over a small country by practicing humility. A small country can also win over a great country by practicing humility.

Wieger On condition of knowing how to lower itself, a great state will win over lesser states,

World Therefore, if the great nation does not distinguish the small nation as separate from itself, it will integrate the smaller nation into its oneness. If a small nation does not distinguish itself as different from from the great nation, it will incorporate the peace and harmony of the great nation.

Wu Hence, is a great country can lower itself before a small country, it will win over the small country; and if a small country can lower itself before a great country, it will win over the great country.

Ch. 61 Sentence 3

Beck Thus some win by placing themselves below, and others win by being below.

Blackney Thus some lie low, designing conquest's ends; While others lowly are, by nature bent To conquer all the rest.

Bynner Some countries consciously seek depth into which to draw others. Some countries naturally have depth into which to draw others:

Byrn If smaller countries take the lower position, then they can allow themselves to be influenced.

Chan Thus some, by placing themselves below, take over (others), And some, by being (naturally) low, take over (other states).

Cleary So one takes by lowering itself, another takes place by being lower.

Crowley In the first case this Silence gains supporters; in the second, favour.

Hansen Hence some 'beneath' in order to take, some 'beneath' and then take.

LaFargue Yes: One puts itself lower so it will win out, if the other gets lower, then it will win.

Legge In the one case the abasement leads to gaining adherents, in the other case to procuring favour.

Lindauer So some are lower and it happens they grab Some are lower and yet they grab.

LinYutan Therefore some place themselves low to absorb (others), Some are (naturally) low and absorb (others).

Mabry Therefore, by being humble, one gains And the other, being humble already, also gains.

McDonald If a small country on the other hand places itself below a big country, it can absorbs or take over some of the big country [assets]. Therefore some place themselves low so as to take over or absorb (others). Some are (naturally) low and absorb (others). Because small kingdoms are by nature in this way underneath large kingdoms, they [sometimes] win the adherence of large kingdoms [or end].

Merel The one submits and adopts; The other submits and is adopted.

Mitchell He considers those who point out his faults as his most benevolent teachers. He thinks of his enemy as the shadow that he himself casts.

Muller Therefore some serve in order to gain And some gain despite their servitude.

Red Pine some lower themselves to govern some lower themselves to be governed

Ta-Kao Therefore some lower themselves to take, while others lower themselves to gather.

Walker One wins by willingly taking the lower position. The other wins by willingly acknowledging its lower position.

Wieger which in their turn, will lower themselves, seeking its protection.

World A great nation conquers by being a reservoir of peace and harmony. A small nation conquers by becoming one with the great nation.

Wu The one wins by stooping; the other by remaining low.

Ch. 61 Sentence 4

Beck A large country wants to protect people, and a small country wants to join and serve.

Blackney The great land's foremost need is to increase The number of its folk; The small land needs above all else to find Its folk more room to work.

Bynner A large country needs to admit, A small country needs to emit,

Byrn So both seek to take the lower position in order to influence the other, or be influenced. Large countries should desire to protect and help the people, and small countries should desire to serve others.

Chan After all, what a big state wants is but to annex and herd others, And what a small state wants is merely to join and serve others.

Cleary A great nation wants no more than to include and nurture people; a small nation ants no more than to admit and serve people.

Crowley The great state unites men and nurtures them; the small state wishes the good will of the great, and offers service;

Hansen Great states simply desire universally domesticating people. Small states simply desire serving people.

LaFargue (A great state has no further desire than to embrace and protect other states. A small state has no further desire than to enter and serve other states.

Legge The great state only wishes to unite men together and nourish them; a small state only wishes to be received by, and to serve, the other.

Lindauer Without fail a great nation desires to bring together and rear others Without fail a tiny nation desires to enter into the efforts of others.

LinYutan What a big country wants is but to shelter others, And what a small country wants is but to be able to come in and be sheltered.

Mabry A great country needs to embrace the lowly. The small country needs to serve others.

McDonald What a big kingdom is after is but to annex and herd others. So what large countries really need is a lot of inhabitants. What small countries need is some place where their surplus inhabitants can go and get employment. What they want can be little more that to join, be somewhat sheltered and perhaps serve for it all.

Merel It is in the interest of a large country to unite and gain service, And in the interest of a small country to unite and gain patronage;

Mitchell

Muller The large state wants nothing more Than to unite and feed its people. The small state wants nothing more Than to enter into the service of the right person.

Red Pine the great state's only desire is to unite and lead others the small state's only desire is to join and serve others

Ta-Kao A great state wishes nothing more than to have and keep many people, and a small state wishes nothing more than to get more things to do.

Walker The great country wants to embrace and nourish more people. The small country wants to ably serve its benefactor.

Wieger

World The great state is a reservoir of peace and harmony for smaller states.Small states seek the peace and harmony of the great state.

Wu What a great country wants is simply to embrace more people; and what a small country wants is simply to come to serve its patron.

Ch. 61 Sentence 5

Beck Thus both get what they want. It is best for the large country to place itself below.

Blackney That both be served and each attain its goal The great land should attempt humility.

Bynner And so each country can naturally have what it needs If the large country submit.

Byrn Both large and small countries benefit greatly from humility.

Chan Since both big and small states get what they want, The big state should place itself low.

Cleary Both get what they want, so the great should be below.

Crowley thus each gains its advantage.

Hansen So of the two, each gets what it wants. The great fittingly deems 'beneath'.

LaFargue So both get what they want) The greatest should be the lowest.

Legge Each gets what it desires, but the great state must learn to abase itself.

Lindauer In the end for both of these to acquire their desired position Those which are great appropriately act low.

LinYutan Thus (considering) that both may have what they want, A big country ought to place itself low.

Mabry Thus, both needs are satisfied And each gets what it wants. // Remember, the great country should always humble itself.

McDonald Both can have what they want; I say the large kingdom must "get underneath".

Merel If both would serve their interests, Both must submit.

Mitchell If a nation is centred in the Tao, if it nourishes its own people and doesn't meddle in the affairs of others, it will be a light to all nations in the world.

Muller Thus both get what they want. Greatness lies in placing oneself below.

Red Pine for both to achieve their desire the greater needs to be lower

Ta-Kao When the two both mean to obtain their wishes, the greater one should lower itself.

Walker Both accomplish their ends by yielding.

Wieger For this to be realized, only one thing is needed, but it is essential. It is that the great state deigns to lower itself before the lesser ones. (if it is proud and hard, there is no hope).

World Both get what they want; oneness. It is natural for the great nation to be receptive to the smaller nation.

Wu Thus, each gets what it wants. But it behooves a great country to lower itself.

Ch. 61	Sentence 2
Beck	A large country wins over a small country by placing itself below the small country. A small country wins over a large country by placing itself below the large country.
Blackney	By quietness and by humility The great land then puts down the small And gets it for its own; But small lands too absorb the great By their subservience.
Bynner	And so a large country, inasfar as it is deeper than a small country, Absorbs the small - Or a small country, inasfar as it is deeper than a large country, Absorbs the large.
Byrn	If a large country takes the low position, it will be able to influence smaller countries.
Chan	A big state can take over a small state if it places itself below the small state; And the small state can take over a big state if it places itself below the big state.
Cleary	Because stillness is considered lower, by lowering itself to a small nation a great nation takes a small nation; by being lower than a great nation a small nation takesa gret nation.
Crowley	Thus a great state attracts small states by meeting their views, and the small state attracts the great state by revering its eminence.
Hansen	Hence if great states use 'beneath' on small states, then they take small states. If small states use 'beneath' on great states, then they take great states.
LaFargue	Yes: A great state, by putting itself lower than the smaller state, will win out over the smaller state. A small state, by putting itself lower than the great state, will win out over the great state.
Legge	Thus it is that a great state, by condescending to small states, gains them for itself; and that small states, by abasing themselves to a great state, win it over to them.
Lindauer	It happens that stillness acts lower. So when a great nation is lower than a tiny nation It next grabs the tiny nation When a tiny nation is lower than a great nation It next grabs the great nation.
LinYutan	Therefore if a big country places itself below a small country It absorbs the small country. (And) if a small country places itself below a big country, It absorbs the big country.
Mabry	Therefore a big country, By placing itself below a smaller country Will win the smaller country. And a small country, By placing itself below a larger country Will gain the large country.
McDonald	A big kingdom can take over [a soul of] a small one if it succeeds in getting itself below the small kingdom; If so it absorbs some from the small country, or wins some adherence of the small kingdom in the open.
Merel	So when a large country submits to a small country It will adopt the small country; When a small country submits to a large country It will be adopted by the large country;
Mitchell	A great nation is like a great man: When he makes a mistake, he realizes it. Having realized it, he admits it. Having admitted it, he corrects it.
Muller	Therefore if a large state serves a small state It will gain the small state. If a small state serves a large state It will gain the large state.
Red Pine	the great state that is lower governs the small state the small state that is lower is governed by the great state
Ta-Kao	Thus a great state lowers itself towards a small state before it takes over the small state. A small state lowers itself towards a great state before it takes over the great state.
Walker	Therefore a great country can win over a small country by practicing humility. A small country can also win over a great country by practicing humility.
Wieger	On condition of knowing how to lower itself, a great state will win over lesser states,
World	Therefore, if the great nation does not distinguish the small nation as separate from itself, it will integrate the smaller nation into its oneness. If a small nation does not distinguish itself as different from from the great nation, it will incorporate the peace and harmony of the great nation.
Wu	Hence, is a great country can lower itself before a small country, it will win over the small country; and if a small country can lower itself before a great country, it will win over the great country.

Ch. 61	Sentence 3
Beck	Thus some win by placing themselves below, and others win by being below.
Blackney	Thus some lie low, designing conquest's ends; While others lowly are, by nature bent To conquer all the rest.
Bynner	Some countries consciously seek depth into which to draw others. Some countries naturally have depth into which to draw others:
Byrn	If smaller countries take the lower position, then they can allow themselves to be influenced.
Chan	Thus some, by placing themselves below, take over (others), And some, by being (naturally) low, take over (other states).
Cleary	So one takes by lowering itself, another takes place by being lower.
Crowley	In the first case this Silence gains supporters; in the second, favour.
Hansen	Hence some 'beneath' in order to take, some 'beneath' and then take.
LaFargue	Yes: One puts itself lower so it will win out, if the other gets lower, then it will win.
Legge	In the one case the abasement leads to gaining adherents, in the other case to procuring favour.
Lindauer	So some are lower and it happens they grab Some are lower and yet they grab.
LinYutan	Therefore some place themselves low to absorb (others), Some are (naturally) low and absorb (others).
Mabry	Therefore, by being humble, one gains And the other, being humble already, also gains.
McDonald	If a small country on the other hand places itself below a big country, it can absorbs or take over some of the big country [assets]. Therefore some place themselves low so as to take over or absorb (others). Some are (naturally) low and absorb (others). Because small kingdoms are by nature in this way underneath large kingdoms, they [sometimes] win the adherence of large kingdoms [or end].
Merel	The one submits and adopts; The other submits and is adopted.
Mitchell	He considers those who point out his faults as his most benevolent teachers. He thinks of his enemy as the shadow that he himself casts.
Muller	Therefore some serve in order to gain And some gain despite their servitude.
Red Pine	some lower themselves to govern some lower themselves to be governed
Ta-Kao	Therefore some lower themselves to take, while others lower themselves to gather.
Walker	One wins by willingly taking the lower position. The other wins by willingly acknowledging its lower position.
Wieger	which in their turn, will lower themselves, seeking its protection.
World	A great nation conquers by being a reservoir of peace and harmony. A small nation conquers by becoming one with the great nation.
Wu	The one wins by stooping; the other by remaining low.

Ch. 61	Sentence 4
Beck	A large country wants to protect people, and a small country wants to join and serve.
Blackney	The great land's foremost need is to increase The number of its folk; The small land needs above all else to find Its folk more room to work.
Bynner	A large country needs to admit, A small country needs to emit,
Byrn	So both seek to take the lower position in order to influence the other, or be influenced. Large countries should desire to protect and help the people, and small countries should desire to serve others.
Chan	After all, what a big state wants is but to annex and herd others, And what a small state wants is merely to join and serve others.
Cleary	A great nation wants no more than to include and nurture people; a small nation ants no more than to admit and serve people.
Crowley	The great state unites men and nurtures them; the small state wishes the good will of the great, and offers service;
Hansen	Great states simply desire universally domesticating people. Small states simply desire serving people.
LaFargue	(A great state has no further desire than to embrace and protect other states. A small state has no further desire than to enter and serve other states.
Legge	The great state only wishes to unite men together and nourish them; a small state only wishes to be received by, and to serve, the other.
Lindauer	Without fail a great nation desires to bring together and rear others Without fail a tiny nation desires to enter into the efforts of others.
LinYutan	What a big country wants is but to shelter others, And what a small country wants is but to be able to come in and be sheltered.
Mabry	A great country needs to embrace the lowly. The small country needs to serve others.
McDonald	What a big kingdom is after is but to annex and herd others. So what large countries really need is a lot of inhabitants. What small countries need is some place where their surplus inhabitants can go and get employment. What they want can be little more that to join, be somewhat sheltered and perhaps serve for it all.
Merel	It is in the interest of a large country to unite and gain service, And in the interest of a small country to unite and gain patronage;
Mitchell
Muller	The large state wants nothing more Than to unite and feed its people. The small state wants nothing more Than to enter into the service of the right person.
Red Pine	the great state's only desire is to unite and lead others the small state's only desire is to join and serve others
Ta-Kao	A great state wishes nothing more than to have and keep many people, and a small state wishes nothing more than to get more things to do.
Walker	The great country wants to embrace and nourish more people. The small country wants to ably serve its benefactor.
Wieger
World	The great state is a reservoir of peace and harmony for smaller states.Small states seek the peace and harmony of the great state.
Wu	What a great country wants is simply to embrace more people; and what a small country wants is simply to come to serve its patron.

Ch. 61	Sentence 5
Beck	Thus both get what they want. It is best for the large country to place itself below.
Blackney	That both be served and each attain its goal The great land should attempt humility.
Bynner	And so each country can naturally have what it needs If the large country submit.
Byrn	Both large and small countries benefit greatly from humility.
Chan	Since both big and small states get what they want, The big state should place itself low.
Cleary	Both get what they want, so the great should be below.
Crowley	thus each gains its advantage.
Hansen	So of the two, each gets what it wants. The great fittingly deems 'beneath'.
LaFargue	So both get what they want) The greatest should be the lowest.
Legge	Each gets what it desires, but the great state must learn to abase itself.
Lindauer	In the end for both of these to acquire their desired position Those which are great appropriately act low.
LinYutan	Thus (considering) that both may have what they want, A big country ought to place itself low.
Mabry	Thus, both needs are satisfied And each gets what it wants. // Remember, the great country should always humble itself.
McDonald	Both can have what they want; I say the large kingdom must "get underneath".
Merel	If both would serve their interests, Both must submit.
Mitchell	If a nation is centred in the Tao, if it nourishes its own people and doesn't meddle in the affairs of others, it will be a light to all nations in the world.
Muller	Thus both get what they want. Greatness lies in placing oneself below.
Red Pine	for both to achieve their desire the greater needs to be lower
Ta-Kao	When the two both mean to obtain their wishes, the greater one should lower itself.
Walker	Both accomplish their ends by yielding.
Wieger	For this to be realized, only one thing is needed, but it is essential. It is that the great state deigns to lower itself before the lesser ones. (if it is proud and hard, there is no hope).
World	Both get what they want; oneness. It is natural for the great nation to be receptive to the smaller nation.
Wu	Thus, each gets what it wants. But it behooves a great country to lower itself.