Religion
Chapter 7
Translated by James Legge (1891) · From The Tao Teh King (1891)
Heaven is long-enduring and earth continues long. The reason why heaven and earth are able to endure and continue thus long is because they do not live of, or for, themselves. This is how they are able to continue and endure.
Therefore the sage puts his own person last, and yet it is found in the foremost place; he treats his person as if it were foreign to him, and yet that person is preserved. Is it not because he has no personal and private ends, that therefore such ends are realised?
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 7.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/laozi/6/.
Chicago
Laozi (Lao Tzu). “Chapter 7.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/laozi/6/.
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