Religion
Chapter 37
Translated by James Legge (1891) · From The Tao Teh King (1891)
The Tao in its regular course does nothing (for the sake of doing it), and so there is nothing which it does not do.
If princes and kings were able to maintain it, all things would of themselves be transformed by them.
If this transformation became to me an object of desire, I would express the desire by the nameless simplicity.
Simplicity without a name
Is free from all external aim.
With no desire, at rest and still,
All things go right as of their will.
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 37.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/laozi/36/.
Chicago
Laozi (Lao Tzu). “Chapter 37.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/laozi/36/.
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