Sacred Text CompassREAD · SEARCH · EXPLORE
Dao De Jing

1He 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.

2Thus 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.'

Edition source ↗ · Historical translation; Gutenberg US public-domain record. Digital source printing unidentified.
James Legge · Gutenberg 216
An original-language partner is not yet available for this edition.