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"Military weapons are inauspicious instruments, And are so generally despised That even those who want things Cannot abide them. Rulers under normal circumstances take the left side as the seat of honor, But when they go to war, they honor the right. Thus, military weapons are not the instruments of true rulers. Military weapons are inauspicious instruments, And so when you have no choice but to use them, It is best to do so coolly and without enthusiasm. Do not glorify weapons, For to do so is to delight in killing people, And anyone who delights in killing people Will come up short in the world. It is for this reason that on auspicious occasions we honor the left side, While at funerals we honor the right. Analogously, the lieutenant commander stands to the left And the supreme commander takes up his position on the right. This means that they are positioned as they would be at a funeral. When the casualties are high, Inspect the battleground with grief and remorse; When the war is won, Treat it as you would a funeral."

Author

Lao Tzu

All Translations

English

"Military weapons are inauspicious instruments, And are so generally despised That even those who want things Cannot abide them. Rulers under normal circumstances take the left side as the seat of honor, But when they go to war, they honor the right. Thus, military weapons are not the instruments of true rulers. Military weapons are inauspicious instruments, And so when you have no choice but to use them, It is best to do so coolly and without enthusiasm. Do not glorify weapons, For to do so is to delight in killing people, And anyone who delights in killing people Will come up short in the world. It is for this reason that on auspicious occasions we honor the left side, While at funerals we honor the right. Analogously, the lieutenant commander stands to the left And the supreme commander takes up his position on the right. This means that they are positioned as they would be at a funeral. When the casualties are high, Inspect the battleground with grief and remorse; When the war is won, Treat it as you would a funeral."

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