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"In the whole world, nothing is softer and weaker than water. And yet for attacking the hard and strong, nothing can bear it, Because there is nothing you can use to replace it. That water can defeat the unyielding - That the weak can defeat the strong - There is no one in the whole world who doesn't know it, And yet there is no one who can put it into practice. For this reason, the words of the Sage say: To take on yourself the disgrace of the state - this is called being the lord of [the altars of] earth and grain; To assume responsibility for all ill-omened events in the state - this is called being the king of the world. Correct words seem to say the reverse [of what you expect them to say]."
Author
Lao TzuAll Translations
"NICHTS IST in der Welt zu finden, Was wie Wasser weich und zart ist, Tüchtiger nichts, zu überwinden, Was von starker, harter Art ist, Nichts, was schwerer man entbehrte. Starkes muß dem Schwachen weichen. Wasser zeigt uns, daß es wahr ist. Aber keiner will ihm gleichen, Wenn's auch allen offenbar ist Und ein Heiliger schon lehrte: „Seines Landes Makel tragen, Heißt: voran beim Opfer gehen. Tragen seines Landes Plagen, Heißt: das Herrscheramt verstehen..." Worte wahr, doch wie verkehrte!"
"In the whole world, nothing is softer and weaker than water. And yet for attacking the hard and strong, nothing can bear it, Because there is nothing you can use to replace it. That water can defeat the unyielding - That the weak can defeat the strong - There is no one in the whole world who doesn't know it, And yet there is no one who can put it into practice. For this reason, the words of the Sage say: To take on yourself the disgrace of the state - this is called being the lord of [the altars of] earth and grain; To assume responsibility for all ill-omened events in the state - this is called being the king of the world. Correct words seem to say the reverse [of what you expect them to say]."
"Az Ég alatt mi lágyabb, mint a víz? Mégis kimarja a kemény követ. Úrrá lesz az erősön ami gyenge, tudjuk, keményen mindig győz a lágy, tudjuk: de senki sem él e tudással. Lám, erről is azt mondották a bölcsek: Országhoz jut, ki szennyes földcsomót kap, s ki az ország minden baját örökli, csak az lehet király az Ég alatt. Lám, milyen ferdén szól az egyenes szó!"
"В Поднебесной нет ничего мягче и слабее воды. Но при столкновении с твердостью и силой никто не способен ее победить. Посредством отсутствия в себе, посредством переменчивости. Через слабость побеждают силу. Через мягкость побеждают твердость. В Поднебесной нет никого, кто не знает. Нет никого, кто способен сделать. Это дает: Человек мудрости говорит: Принимаешь на себя грязь государства. Это определяется: Хозяин главного алтаря. Принимаешь на себя недобрые знамения в государстве. Это определяется: Правитель Поднебесной. Правильность речи отталкивается от обратного."