| |
Original |
Legge's
Translation |
Susuki's
Translation |
Goddard's
Translation |
| 1 |
天下之至柔，馳騁天下之至堅。 |
The softest thing in the world dashes against and overcomes the
hardest;
|
The world's weakest overcomes the world's hardest. |
The most tender things of creation race over the hardest. |
| 2 |
無有入無間。 |
That which has no (substantial) existence enters where there
is no crevice. |
Non-existence enters into the impenetrable.
|
A non-material existence enters into the most impenetrable.
|
| 3 |
吾是以知無為之有益，不言
之教，無為之益，天下希及之。 |
I know hereby what advantage belongs to doing nothing
(with a purpose).
There are few in the world who
attain to the teaching without
words, and the advantage arising from non-action. |
Thereby I comprehend of non-assertion the advantage. There are few in the world
who obtain of non-assertion the advantage and of silence
the lesson. |
I therefore recognize an advantage in the doctrine of not doing (wu wei) and
not speaking. But there are few in the world who obtain
the advantage of non-assertion (wu wei) and silence. |
