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Tao Te Ching.

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道德經

81 CHAPTERS · CHINESE & ENGLISH

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PART II · DE72
CHAPTER 72 OF 81

Loving One’s Self

原文 / CHINESE

民不畏威,则大威至。无狎其所居,无厌其所生。夫唯不厌,是以不厌。是以圣人自知不自见;自爱不自贵。故去彼取此。

ENGLISH / JAMES LEGGE

When the people do not fear what they ought to fear, that which is their great dread will come on them.

Let them not thoughtlessly indulge themselves in their ordinary life; let them not act as if weary of what that life depends on.

It is by avoiding such indulgence that such weariness does not arise.

Therefore the sage knows (these things) of himself, but does not parade (his knowledge); loves, but does not (appear to set a) value on, himself. And thus he puts the latter alternative away and makes choice of the former.

About the text, translation & sources

The Chinese text follows our sister site, Longhu Mountain. The English is James Legge’s public-domain translation, first published in 1891, transcribed from the Project Gutenberg edition. Paragraph numbering is omitted; wording, parenthetical explanations and period language are retained. Chinese readings vary between editions.

The Tao Te Ching is traditionally attributed to Laozi. Its date and authorship are debated. Chapter titles are reading aids; they are not part of the ancient Chinese chapter text. The reflection boxes on this site are contemporary editorial questions, distinct from the translation.

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A FIRST ENCOUNTER

Begin with the Way

Names, origins and the language of the Dao.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF STRENGTH

Water & softness

Images of yielding, flexibility and quiet persistence.

ROOM TO NOTICE

Space & stillness

The usefulness of emptiness and the practice of less.

CARE & HUMILITY

Living with others

Character, leadership and a life beyond accumulation.

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