Chapter 67

天下皆谓我道大

Chapter Translation

天tiān下xià皆jiē谓wèi我wǒ道dào大dà，

似sì不bù肖xiào。

夫fū唯wéi大dà，

故gù似sì不bù肖xiào；

若ruò肖xiào，

久jiǔ矣yǐ其qí细xì也yě夫fū！

我wǒ有yǒu三sān宝bǎo，

持chí而ér保bǎo之zhī。

一yī曰yuē慈cí，

二èr曰yuē俭jiǎn，

三sān曰yuē不bù敢gǎn为wèi天tiān下xià先xiān。

慈cí故gù能néng勇yǒng；

俭jiǎn故gù能néng广guǎng；

不bù敢gǎn为wèi天tiān下xià先xiān，

故gù能néng成chéng器qì长cháng。

今jīn舍shě慈cí且qiě勇yǒng；

舍shě俭jiǎn且qiě广guǎng；

舍shě后hòu且qiě先xiān；

死sǐ矣yǐ！

夫fū慈cí以yǐ战zhàn则zé胜shèng，

以yǐ守shǒu则zé固gù。

天tiān将jiāng救jiù之zhī，

a> All in the world say my dao is huge, but appears to be worthless. It is indeed because it is huge that it appears worthless. If it were worthy would it not long since have become small?

b> I possess three treasures; I protect them in my grasp. One is compassion, the second is frugality, and third, I dare not take the lead in the world. Compassionate, thus I can have valor; frugal, thus I can extend my territory; unwilling to take the lead in the world, thus my works endure.

c> Now were I to discard compassion in favor of valor, frugality in favor of territory, taking my place behind in favor of leading, I would die.

d> He who goes to battle with compassion prevails; who defends his state with compassion will be impregnable. He whom Tian wishes to save it protects by means of compassion.

A modern classroom translation, with labeled subsections for study.