Tao Te Ching Chapter 68
第68章
善為士者不武,善戰者不怒,善勝敵者不與,善用人者為之下,是謂不爭之德,是謂用人之力,是謂配天古之極。
He who in (Tao's) wars has skill
Assumes no martial port;
He who fights with most good will
To rage makes no resort.
He who vanquishes yet still
Keeps from his foes apart;
He whose hests men most fulfil
Yet humbly plies his art.
Thus we say, 'He ne'er contends,
And therein is his might.'
Thus we say, 'Men's wills he bends,
That they with him unite.'
Thus we say, 'Like Heaven's his ends,
No sage of old more bright.'
English: James Legge (1891), The Tâo Teh King, Sacred Books of the East vol. 39 (1891) — public domain. Chinese: Wang Bi recension (王弼本), commentary removed.
Character glossary
- 善shàngood, virtuous, charitable, kind
- 為wèito do, to act; to handle, to govern; to
- 士shìscholar, gentleman; soldier
- 者zhěthat which; they who; those who
- 不bùno, not, un-; negative prefix
- 武wǔmilitary; martial, warlike
- 戰zhànwar, fighting, battle
- 怒nùanger, passion, rage
- 勝shèngvictory; to excel, to truimph
- 敵díenemy, foe, rival; to match; to resist
- 與yǔand; with; to; for; to give, to grant
- 用yòngto use, to employ, to apply; use
- 人rénman, person; people
- 之zhīmarks preceding phrase as modifier of fo
- 下xiàbelow, underneath; inferior; to bring do
- 是shìto be; indeed, right, yes; okay
- 謂wèito call, to say, to tell; name, title; m
- 爭zhēngto dispute, to fight, to contend, to str
- 德déethics, morality; compassion, kindness
- 力lìstrength, power; capability, influence
- 配pèito blend, to mix; to fit, to match
- 天tiānsky, heaven; god, celestial
- 古gǔold, classic, ancient
- 極jíextreme, top; final, furthest, utmost; p
Similar passages
- Zhuangzi Hsü Wu Kuei
- Zhuangzi Perfect Happiness
- Zhuangzi The Tao of God
- Tao Te Ching Chapter 15
- Art of War 2.18
- Zhuangzi Exercise of Faculties
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0); Chinese Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.