Religion
Chapter 45
Translated by James Legge (1891) · From The Tao Teh King (1891)
Who thinks his great achievements poor
Shall find his vigour long endure.
Of greatest fulness, deemed a void,
Exhaustion ne'er shall stem the tide.
Do thou what's straight still crooked deem;
Thy greatest art still stupid seem,
And eloquence a stammering scream.
Constant action overcomes cold; being still overcomes heat. Purity and stillness give the correct law to all under heaven.
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 45.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/laozi/44/.
Chicago
Laozi (Lao Tzu). “Chapter 45.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/laozi/44/.
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