Religion
Chapter 36
Translated by James Legge (1891) · From The Tao Teh King (1891)
When one is about to take an inspiration, he is sure to make a (previous) expiration; when he is going to weaken another, he will first strengthen him; when he is going to overthrow another, he will first have raised him up; when he is going to despoil another, he will first have made gifts to him:--this is called 'Hiding the light (of his procedure).'
The soft overcomes the hard; and the weak the strong.
Fishes should not be taken from the deep; instruments for the profit of a state should not be shown to the people.
This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.
Codex Note
Prose translation of a largely rhymed original, with occasional rhymed renderings by Legge; words in parentheses are his supplied additions.
Cite this poem
MLA
Laozi (Lao Tzu). “Chapter 36.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/laozi/35/.
Chicago
Laozi (Lao Tzu). “Chapter 36.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/laozi/35/.
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