66𝍇后巳

道德經 Dao De Jing [Tao Te Ching]

Chapter 66: Putting One's Self Last

	繁體 Trad ↔ 简体 Simp	Legge's Translation	Susuki's Translation	Goddard's Translation
	后巳	Putting One's Self Last	Putting Oneself Behind	To Subordinate Self
1	江海之所以能为百谷王者，以其善下之，	That whereby the rivers and seas are able to receive the homage and tribute of all the valley streams, is their skill in being lower than they;--it is thus that they are the kings of them all.	That rivers and oceans can of the hundred valleys be kings is due to their excelling in lowliness. Thus they can of the hundred valleys be the kings.	The reason rivers and seas are called the kings of the valley is because they keep below them.
2	故能为百谷王。是以圣人欲上民，必以言下之；欲先民，必以身后之。	So it is that the sage (ruler), wishing to be above men, puts himself by his words below them, and, wishing to be before them, places his person behind them.	Therefore the holy man, when anxious to be above the people, must in his words keep underneath them. When anxious to lead the people, he must with his person keep behind them.	Therefore the wise man desiring to be above his people must in his demeanor keep below them; wishing to benefit his people, he must ever keep himself out of sight.
3	是以圣人处上而民不重，处前而民不害。	In this way though he has his place above them, men do not feel his weight, nor though he has his place before them, do they feel it an injury to them.	Therefore the holy man dwells above, but the people are not burdened. He is ahead, but the people suffer no harm.	The wise man dwells above, yet the people do not feel the burden; he is the leader and the people suffer no harm. Therefore the world rejoices to exalt him and never wearies of him.
4	是以天下乐推而不厌。以其不争，故天下莫能与之争。	Therefore all in the world delight to exalt him and do not weary of him. Because he does not strive, no one finds it possible to strive with him.	Therefore the world rejoices in exalting him and does not tire. Because he strives not, no one in the world will strive with him.	Because he will not quarrel with anyone, no one can quarrel with him.

繁體 Trad ↔ 简体 Simp

Legge's Translation

Susuki's Translation

Goddard's Translation

后巳

Putting One's Self Last

Putting Oneself Behind

To Subordinate Self

江海之所以能为百谷王者，以其善下之，

That whereby the rivers and seas are able to receive the homage and tribute of all the valley streams, is their skill in being lower than they;--it is thus that they are the kings of them all.

That rivers and oceans can of the hundred valleys be kings is due to their excelling in lowliness. Thus they can of the hundred valleys be the kings.

The reason rivers and seas are called the kings of the valley is because they keep below them.

故能为百谷王。是以圣人欲上民，必以言下之；欲先民，必以身后之。

So it is that the sage (ruler), wishing to be above men, puts himself by his words below them, and, wishing to be before them, places his person behind them.

Therefore the holy man, when anxious to be above the people, must in his words keep underneath them. When anxious to lead the people, he must with his person keep behind them.

Therefore the wise man desiring to be above his people must in his demeanor keep below them; wishing to benefit his people, he must ever keep himself out of sight.

是以圣人处上而民不重，处前而民不害。

In this way though he has his place above them, men do not feel his weight, nor though he has his place before them, do they feel it an injury to them.

Therefore the holy man dwells above, but the people are not burdened. He is ahead, but the people suffer no harm.

The wise man dwells above, yet the people do not feel the burden; he is the leader and the people suffer no harm. Therefore the world rejoices to exalt him and never wearies of him.

是以天下乐推而不厌。以其不争，故天下莫能与之争。

Therefore all in the world delight to exalt him and do not weary of him. Because he does not strive, no one finds it possible to strive with him.

Therefore the world rejoices in exalting him and does not tire. Because he strives not, no one in the world will strive with him.

Because he will not quarrel with anyone, no one can quarrel with him.