Religion
Chapter 49
Translated by James Legge (1891) · From The Tao Teh King (1891)
The sage has no invariable mind of his own; he makes the mind of the people his mind.
To those who are good (to me), I am good; and to those who are not good (to me), I am also good;--and thus (all) get to be good. To those who are sincere (with me), I am sincere; and to those who are not sincere (with me), I am also sincere;--and thus (all) get to be sincere.
The sage has in the world an appearance of indecision, and keeps his mind in a state of indifference to all. The people all keep their eyes and ears directed to him, and he deals with them all as his children.
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 49.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/laozi/48/.
Chicago
Laozi (Lao Tzu). “Chapter 49.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/laozi/48/.
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