Chapter 69
"A master of the art of war has said, 'I do not dare to be the host to commence the war;
I prefer to be the guest to act on the defensive.
I do not dare to advance an inch;
I prefer to retire a foot.'
This is called marshalling the ranks where there are no ranks;
Baring the arms to fight where there are no arms to bare;
Grasping the weapon where there is no weapon to grasp;
Advancing against the enemy where there is no enemy.
There is no calamity greater than lightly engaging in war.
To do that is near losing the gentleness which is so precious.
Thus it is that when opposing weapons are actually crossed, he who deplores the situation conquers."
- Translated by James Legge, 1891, Chapter 69
"In conflict just be cautious
And always on your guard
Rather than advance an inch
Instead retreat a yard
In this way you go along
And make your gain without advancing
You deal with the rival
As your position is enhancing
Remember that it's possible
Your rival just may yield
So don't advance on such a foe
Let differences be healed."
- Translated by Jim Caltfelter, 2000, Chapter 69
用兵有言.
吾不敢為主而為客.
不敢進寸而退尺.
是謂行無行.
攘無臂扔無敵.
執無兵.
禍莫大於輕敵.
輕敵幾喪吾寶.
故抗兵相加.
哀者勝矣.
- Chinese characters, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 69
yong bing you yan.
wu bu gan wei zhu er wei ke.
bu gan jin cun er tui chi.
shi wei hang wu hang.
rang wu bi reng wu di.
zhi wu bing.
huo mo da yu qing di.
qing di ji sang wu bao.
gu kang bing xiang jia.
ai zhe sheng yi.
- Pinyin Romanization, Daodejing, Chapter 69
"A great soldier used to say:
"I plan not to be a Lord, but to be a follower; I plan not to advance an inch, but to recede a foot.
This is called:
Advancing with the advantage of Inner Life, baring the arm with the energy of Inner Life, grasping a weapon with the force of Inner Life, meeting the foe as a soldier of Inner Life.
There is no calamity greater than lightly to engage in war.
To engage lightly in war is to lose our treasure of gentleness.
Therefore, when soldiers meet who are equally strong,
He who is compassionate shall conquer."
- Translated by Isabella Mears, 1916, Chapter 69
"An ancient tactician has said:
'I dare not act as a host, but would rather act as a guest;
I dare not advance an inch, but would rather retreat a foot.'
This implies that he does not marshal the ranks as if there were no ranks;
He does not roll up his sleeves as if he had no arms;
He does not seize as if he had no weapons;
He does not fight as if there were no enemies.
No calamity is greater than under-estimating the enemy.
To under-estimate the enemy is to be on the point of losing our treasure.
Therefore, when opposing armies meet in the field the ruthful will win."
- Translated by Ch'u Ta-Kao, 1904, Chapter 69
"Hay un dicho sobre el uso de las armas:
No te apresures a ser anfítrión;
Ejerce, más bien, de huésped.
No te apresures a avanzar una pulgada;
Retrocede, máa bien, un pie.
Se dice que esto es avanzar sin avancar,
Golpear y retroceder sin extender el codo.
Apoderarte de tu adversario sin arma
Y conquistar sin tener adversario alguno.
No hay mayor desastre que despreciar a tud adversario;
Despreciar a tu adversario te conduce casi siempre
a perder tus tsoros
con la facilidad con que caen las hojas de los árboles.
Así cuando se enfrentan do rivales alzando las armas,
Vencerá el que lamenta luchar."
- Translated from Chinese to English by William Scott Wilson, Spanish version by Alejandro Pareja, 2012, Capitulo 69
"An experienced soldier said, 'I
dare not be
The host in war, I' d rather be
the guest;
I dare not, at the first, advance
an inch,
But rather would retire a foot if
pressed.'
It is to march when there' s
nowhere to march,
To threat with arms when there are
arms nowhere,
To charge without an enemy in
sight,
To take by sword and spear when
none are there.
Misfortune never greater can there
be
Than to make light of enemies in
war,
Thereby we lose our all, for then
when meet
Embattled hosts, the weak is
conqueror."
- Translated by Isaac Winter Heysinger, 1903, Chapter 69
- Translated by Isaac Winter Heysinger, 1903, Chapter 69
Chapter and Thematic Index (Concordance) to the Tao Te Ching
Taoism: A Selected Reading List
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