Daniel Medvedov

TAO TE CHING Chapter 77

Translation from Chinese with Richard Strauss Editing Wien Boston 2011

77.
The Way of Heaven Is like the stretching of a bow. The top is pulled down, While the bottom is pulled up. Any slack in the bowstring dissipates, And as more is required, it is secured. So is the Royal Way of Heaven. It cuts where there is excess And adds where there is lacking . . . But the way of man differs: There is never enough, indeed . . . Taking away from the needy, While glorifying the sycophants . . . Who can offer the world that which he has spared? Only he who walks on the Kings Road. Therefore the sage acts, Counting on nothing. Once his work is completed, he dwells not, For he makes no pretension of eminence . . .

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