Transformations According to Circumstances, Sages, Good and Bad, Effortless,
Self-Regulating, Less Government, Facilitate, Adaptation to Change,
順化
"When the ruler looks repressed the people will be happy
and satisfied;
When the rule looks lively and self-assured the people will be carping and
discontented.
“It is upon bad fortune that good fortune leans, upon good fortune that bad
fortune rests.”
But though few know it, there is a bourn where there is neither right nor wrong;
In a realm where every straight is doubled by a crooked,
And every good by an ill, surely mankind has gone long enough astray?
Therefore the Sage
Squares without cutting,
Shapes the corners without lopping,
Straightens without stretching,
Gives forth light without shining."
- Translated by
Arthur Waley,
Chapter 58
"Group process evolves naturally. It is self-regulating.
Do not interfere. It will work itself out.
Efforts to control process usually fail. Either they block process or make it
chaotic.
Learn to trust what is happening. If there is silence, let it grow; something
will emerge. If there is a storm, let it rage, it will resolve into calm.
Is the group discontented? You can't make it happy. Even if you could, your
efforts might well deprive the group of a very creative struggle.
The wise leader knows how to facilitate the unfolding group process, because the
leader is also a process. The group's process and the leader's process unfold in
the same way, according to the same principle.
The leader knows how to have a profound influence without making things happen.
For example, facilitating what is happening is more potent than pushing for what
you wish were happening. Demonstrating or modeling behaviour is more potent than
imposing morality. Unbiased positions are stronger than prejudice. Radiance
encourages people, but outshining everyone else inhibits them."
- Translated by
John Heider,
Chapter 58
Tao Te Ching
Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching
Translated by Livia Kohn
Dao De Jing: The Book of the Way
"When the government is unobtrusive, the people will be
simple and honest.
When the government is dictatorial, the people will be seized with panic.
Fortune depends on misfortune.
Misfortune is hidden in fortune.
He who knows how to stay within the limits will not have misfortune.
Correctness will lead to deceit.
Good will lead to evil.
Nothing can remain always the same.
People have been confused by this since ancient times.
That is why the sage
behaves correctly without hurting others,
behaves honestly without damaging others,
behaves straightforwardly without vilifying others,
behaves brightly without dazzling others."
- Translated by
Chao-Hsiu Chen,
Chapter 58
"When the government (cheng) is dull,
Its people are wholesome;
When the government is efficient (ch'a),
Its people are deficient (ch'üeh).
Calamities (huo) are what blessings depend on,
In blessings are latent calamities (huo).
Who knows where is the turning point (chi)?
Because there is no longer the normal (cheng),
The normal reverts and appears as the strange (ch'i),
The good reverts and appears as the uncanny.
Rulers (jen) have lost their way,
For a long stretch of days.
Therefore the sage is square but not cutting (ko),
Sharp but not injurious,
Straight but not overreaching,
Bright (kuang) but not dazzling."
- Translated by
Ellen M. Chen,
Chapter 58
Translation and elucidation by Hua Ching Ni
Translated by Brian Walker
Translated by Arthur Waley
Translated by Lionel and and Herbert Giles
By Eva Wong
"When the government is dull,
The people are simple.
When the government is keen,
The people are discontented.
Bad fortune is what good fortune leans on;
Good fortune is where bad fortune lurks.
Who knows the fortune's end?
There is nothing straight.
What is straight turns monstrous.
What is beautiful turns grotesque.
Man has been deluded
From time immemorial.
Therefore the sage
Is square without cutting;
Honest without scraping;
Straight without overbearing;
Bright without dazzling."
- Translated by
Ha Poong Kim,
Chapter 58
"The government that exerciseth the least care serveth
the people best;
that which meddleth with everybody's business worketh all manner of harm.
Sorrow and joy are bedfellows; who can divine the final result of either?
Shall we avoid restriction? Yea; restriction distorteth nature, so that
even what seemeth good in it is evil. For how long have men suffered
from misunderstanding of this.
The wise man is foursquare, and avoideth aggression; his corners do not
injure others. He moveth in a straight line and turneth not aside therefrom;
he is brilliant but doth not blind with his brightness."
- Translated by
Aleister Crowley,
Chapter 58
By Alexander Simkins. 
By Derek Lin.
By Ming-Dao Deng.
By Benjamin Hoff.
By Ming-Dao Deng.
Translated by Thomas Cleary.
"When the governor is magnanimous,
The people will become simple;
When the governor is harsh,
The people will become cunning.
Disaster hides itself behind good fortune;
Good fortune leans against disaster.
Who knows the secret?
There is no definite answer.
The normal changes into the abnormal;
The good changes into the evil.
People have been long perplexed.
Thus the sage is square and upright
But does not wound the people;
He is edged but does not cut the people;
He is candid but does not behave wantonly;
He gives light but does not dazzle."
- Translated by
Gu Zhengkun,
Chapter 58
"When a nation is ruled
By Hu Xuzehi
Annotated translation by Victor Mair 
By Ha Poong Kim
By Hans-Georg Moeller 
By Roger T. Ames and David T. Hall
By Wes Burgess
By Arthur Waley
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