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德 Teh
Chapter 77

1. May not the Way (or Tâo) of Heaven be compared to the (method of) bending a bow? The (part of the bow) which was high is brought low, and what was low is raised up. (So Heaven) diminishes where there is superabundance, and supplements where there is deficiency.

2. It is the Way of Heaven to diminish superabundance, and to supplement deficiency. It is not so with the way of man. He takes away from those who have not enough to add to his own superabundance.

3. Who can take his own superabundance and therewith serve all under heaven? Only he who is in possession of the Tâo!

4. Therefore the (ruling) sage acts without claiming the results as his; he achieves his merit and does not rest (arrogantly) in it:—he does not wish to display his superiority.

七 十 七 章

天 之 道 ,
其 猶 張 弓 !
高 者 抑 之 ,
下 者 舉 之 ,
有 餘 者 損 之 ,
不 足 者 與 之 。
天 之 道 ,
損 有 餘 而 補 不 足 ;
人 道 則 不 然 ,
損 不 足 ,
奉有 餘 。
熟 能 有 餘 以 奉 天 下 ？
其 唯 有 道 者 。
是 以 聖 人 為 而 不 恃 ,
功 成 不 處 ,
斯 不 見 賢 。

Key Terms

Observations and Comments

Legge Translation Notes

###, 'The Way of Heaven;' but the chapter contrasts that way, unselfish and magnanimous, with the way of man, selfish and contracted, and illustrates the point by the method of stringing a bow. This must be seen as it is done in China fully to understand the illustration. I have known great athletes in this country tasked to the utmost of their strength to adjust and bend a large Chinese bow from Peking.

The 'sage' of par. 4 is the 'King' of ch. 25. Compare what is said of him with ch. 2, par. 4, et al.