Tao Teh Ching - 60 Interactive Versions

#Click on a sentence 1 2 3 4 Chapter 23 Chapter 25 Back to index #

Ch. 24	Sentence 1
Beck	Those who stand on tiptoe are not steady. Those who strain their strides cannot long keep up the pace.
Blackney	On tiptoe your stance is unsteady; Long strides make your progress unsure;
Bynner	Standing tiptoe a man loses balance, Walking stride he has no pace,
Byrn	Those who stand on tiptoes do not stand firmly. Those who rush ahead don't get very far.
Chan	He who stands on tiptoe is not steady. He who strides forward does not go.
Cleary	Those on tiptoe don't stand up, those who take long strides don't walk;
Crowley	He who stands a-tiptoe stands not firm; he who makes rigid his legs walks ill.
Hansen	Those who tiptoe do not stand. Those who stride do not walk.
LaFargue	"A person on tiptoe is not firmly planted a person in a rush will not go far."
Legge	He who stands on his tiptoes does not stand firm; he who stretches his legs does not walk (easily).
Lindauer	Those on tiptoe are not standing firmly Those who stride are not moving
LinYutan	He who stands on tiptoe does not stand (firm); He who strains his strides does not walk (well);
Mabry	One who stands on tiptoe does not stand firm. One who rushes ahead is likely to trip.
McDonald	Who stands on tiptoe, doesn't stand steady; He who takes the longest strides, doesn't walk.
Merel	Straighten yourself and you will not stand steady;
Mitchell	He who stands on tiptoe doesn't stand firm. He who rushes ahead doesn't go far.
Muller	Standing on tiptoe, you are unsteady. Straddle-legged, you cannot go.
Red Pine	Who tiptoes doesn't stand who strides doesn't walk
Ta-Kao	A man on tiptoe cannot stand firm; A man astride cannot walk on;
Walker	A man who tiptoes can't stand. A man who straddles can't walk.
Wieger	By dint of holding oneself on tiptoe, one loses one's balance. By trying to take too great a stride, one does not go forward.
World	Stand on your toes and you will not maintain your balance. Run and you will have to rest. Keep a harmonious pace and you can circumnavigate the earth
Wu	One on tiptoe cannot stand. One astride cannot walk.

Ch. 24 Sentence 2

Beck Those who display themselves do not illuminate. Those who justify themselves are not distinguished.

Blackney Show off and you get no attention; Your boasting will mean you have failed;

Bynner Kindling himself he fails to light, Acquitting himself he forfeits his hearers,

Byrn Those who try to outshine others dim their own light. Those who call themselves righteous can't know how wrong they are.

Chan He who shows himself is not luminous. He who justifies himself is not prominent.

Cleary those who see themselves are not perceptive, those who assert themselves are not illustrious;

Crowley He who preens himself shines not; he who talks positively is vulgar;

Hansen Those who see for themselves are not discerning. Those who affirm for themselves are not insightful.

LaFargue One who shows off will not shine one who promotes himself won't become famous

Legge (So), he who displays himself does not shine; he who asserts his own views is not distinguished;

Lindauer Those who boast of themselves are not of outstanding service Those who brag of themselves are not growing.

LinYutan He who boasts of himself is not given credit; He who prides himself is not chief among men.

Mabry One who listens only to himself cannot learn. One who considers himself righteous, isn't.

McDonald He who does his own looking sees little, and he who shows or reveals himself is hardly luminous.

Merel Display yourself and you will not be clearly seen; Justify yourself and you will not be respected;

Mitchell He who tries to shine dims his own light. He who defines himself can't know who he really is.

Muller If you show yourself, you will not be seen. If you affirm yourself, you will not shine.

Red Pine who watches himself doesn't appear who displays himself doesn't flourish

Ta-Kao A man who displays himself cannot shine; A man who approves himself cannot be noted;

Walker A man who shows off can't shine. A man who boasts of his achievements has no merit.

Wieger By making a show of oneself, one loses one's reputation. Through imposing oneself, one loses one's influence.

World Draw attention to yourself and others may consider you a fool. Become self-righteous and others will avoid you.

Wu One who displays himself cannot shine. One who justifies himself has no glory.

Ch. 24 Sentence 3

Beck Those who make claims are not given credit. Those who seek glory are not leaders.

Blackney Asserting yourself brings no credit; Be proud and you will never lead.

Bynner Admiring himself he does so alone. Pride has never brought a man greatness

Byrn Those who boast of their accomplishments diminish the things they have done.

Chan He who boasts of himself is not given credit. He who brags does not endure for long.

Cleary those who glorify themselves have no merit, those who are proud of themselves do not last.

Crowley he who boasts is refused acceptance; he who is wise in his own conceit is thought inferior.

Hansen Those who attack it themselves do not achieve. Those who esteem themselves do not become elders.

LaFargue one who boasts of himself will get no credit one who glorifies himself will not become leader.

Legge he who vaunts himself does not find his merit acknowledged; he who is self-conceited has no superiority allowed to him.

Lindauer They that join tao also say Surplus food and redundant actions are somehow disliked So those present with tao are not dwelling there.

LinYutan These in the eyes of Tao Are called "the dregs and tumors of Virtue," Which are things of disgust. Therefore the man of Tao spurns them.

Mabry One who brags has nothing to brag about. /One who feels sorry for himself does not grow.

McDonald He who justifies and defines himself isn't subsequently distinct. He who boasts of what he will do succeeds in nothing; Who brags doesn't endure for long. Who is proud of his work, achieves nothing well lasting.

Merel Promote yourself and you will not be believed; Pride yourself and you will not endure.

Mitchell He who has power over others can't empower himself. He who clings to his work will create nothing that endures.

Muller If you boast, you will have no merit. If you promote yourself, you will have no success.

Red Pine who flatters himself achieves nothing who parades himself doesn't lead

Ta-Kao A man who praises himself cannot have merit; A man who glories in himself cannot excel:

Walker A man who brags will not endure.

Wieger Through boasting about oneself, one becomes discredited. Through pushing oneself, one ceases to be augmented.

World Boasting impresses no one. Brag and you may be put to the te

Wu One who boasts of his own ability has no merit. One who parades his own success will not endure.

Ch. 24 Sentence 4

Beck According to the Way these are like extra food and waste, which all creatures detest. Therefore followers of the Way avoid them.

Blackney To persons of the Way, these traits Can only bring distrust; they seem Like extra food for parasites. So those who choose the Way, Will never give them place.

Bynner But, according to the way of life, Brings the ills that make him unfit, Make him unclean in the eyes of his neighbour, And a sane man will have none of them.

Byrn Compared to the Tao, these actions are unworthy. If we are to follow the Tao, we must not do these things.

Chan From the point of view of Tao, these are like remnants of food and tumours of action, Which all creatures detest. Therefore those who possess Tao turn away from them.

Cleary On the Way, these are called overconsumption and excess activity. Some people disdain them, so those with the Way abstain.

Crowley Such attitudes, to him that has the view given by understanding the Dao, seem like garbage or like cancer, abhorrent to all. They then who follow the Way do not admit them.

Hansen When these are in guides, we say: 'Excess provision; redundant action.' Some natural kinds avoid them. Hence those who have guides don't place them.

LaFargue In Tao this is called 'Stuffing oneself','overdoing it.' Things seem to detest this, so the ambitious man does not dwell here.

Legge Such conditions, viewed from the standpoint of the Tao, are like remnants of food, or a tumour on the body, which all dislike. Hence those who pursue (the course) of the Tao do not adopt and allow them.

Mabry Compared to the Tao, these people are table scraps and wasted effort, and not well- liked by anyone or anything. So, if you follow the Tao, you will not live like that.

McDonald Such people are like remnants of food and tumours of action from the dao point of view. Good braggarts could be dregs. So it's said "Pass round superfluous dishes to those that have already had enough, Such things of disgust all are likely to detest and reject in disgust." So the man of dao spurns them. The man that has dao doesn't stay to bray and show off.

Merel These behaviours are wasteful, indulgent, And so they attract disfavour; Harmony avoids them.

Mitchell If you want to accord with the Tao, just do your job, then let go.

Muller Those who abide in the Tao call these Leftover food and wasted action And all things dislike them. Therefore the person of the Tao does not act like this.

Red Pine on the road they say too much food and a tiring pace some things are simply bad thus the Taoist avoids them

Ta-Kao These, when compared with Tao, are-called; 'Excess in food and overdoing action.' Even in other things, mostly, they are rejected; Therefore the man of Tao does not stay with them.

Walker To a person of Tao, these things are excess food and superfluous behaviour. Because nothing good can come of them, he doesn't indulge in them.

Wieger In the light of the Principle all these ways of acting are odious, distasteful. They are superfluous excesses. They are like a pain in the stomach, a tumour in the body. He who has principles (in conformity with the Principle), does not act like this.

World Within the oneness of Infinity, all these are delusions of the physical world. They do not bring peace and harmony. Be at one with Infinity and keep these in perspective. They are transient excesses in a transient universe

Wu In Tao these things are called "unwanted food and extraneous growths," Which are loathed by all things. Hence, a man of Tao does not set his heart upon them.

Ch. 24	Sentence 2
Beck	Those who display themselves do not illuminate. Those who justify themselves are not distinguished.
Blackney	Show off and you get no attention; Your boasting will mean you have failed;
Bynner	Kindling himself he fails to light, Acquitting himself he forfeits his hearers,
Byrn	Those who try to outshine others dim their own light. Those who call themselves righteous can't know how wrong they are.
Chan	He who shows himself is not luminous. He who justifies himself is not prominent.
Cleary	those who see themselves are not perceptive, those who assert themselves are not illustrious;
Crowley	He who preens himself shines not; he who talks positively is vulgar;
Hansen	Those who see for themselves are not discerning. Those who affirm for themselves are not insightful.
LaFargue	One who shows off will not shine one who promotes himself won't become famous
Legge	(So), he who displays himself does not shine; he who asserts his own views is not distinguished;
Lindauer	Those who boast of themselves are not of outstanding service Those who brag of themselves are not growing.
LinYutan	He who boasts of himself is not given credit; He who prides himself is not chief among men.
Mabry	One who listens only to himself cannot learn. One who considers himself righteous, isn't.
McDonald	He who does his own looking sees little, and he who shows or reveals himself is hardly luminous.
Merel	Display yourself and you will not be clearly seen; Justify yourself and you will not be respected;
Mitchell	He who tries to shine dims his own light. He who defines himself can't know who he really is.
Muller	If you show yourself, you will not be seen. If you affirm yourself, you will not shine.
Red Pine	who watches himself doesn't appear who displays himself doesn't flourish
Ta-Kao	A man who displays himself cannot shine; A man who approves himself cannot be noted;
Walker	A man who shows off can't shine. A man who boasts of his achievements has no merit.
Wieger	By making a show of oneself, one loses one's reputation. Through imposing oneself, one loses one's influence.
World	Draw attention to yourself and others may consider you a fool. Become self-righteous and others will avoid you.
Wu	One who displays himself cannot shine. One who justifies himself has no glory.

Ch. 24	Sentence 3
Beck	Those who make claims are not given credit. Those who seek glory are not leaders.
Blackney	Asserting yourself brings no credit; Be proud and you will never lead.
Bynner	Admiring himself he does so alone. Pride has never brought a man greatness
Byrn	Those who boast of their accomplishments diminish the things they have done.
Chan	He who boasts of himself is not given credit. He who brags does not endure for long.
Cleary	those who glorify themselves have no merit, those who are proud of themselves do not last.
Crowley	he who boasts is refused acceptance; he who is wise in his own conceit is thought inferior.
Hansen	Those who attack it themselves do not achieve. Those who esteem themselves do not become elders.
LaFargue	one who boasts of himself will get no credit one who glorifies himself will not become leader.
Legge	he who vaunts himself does not find his merit acknowledged; he who is self-conceited has no superiority allowed to him.
Lindauer	They that join tao also say Surplus food and redundant actions are somehow disliked So those present with tao are not dwelling there.
LinYutan	These in the eyes of Tao Are called "the dregs and tumors of Virtue," Which are things of disgust. Therefore the man of Tao spurns them.
Mabry	One who brags has nothing to brag about. /One who feels sorry for himself does not grow.
McDonald	He who justifies and defines himself isn't subsequently distinct. He who boasts of what he will do succeeds in nothing; Who brags doesn't endure for long. Who is proud of his work, achieves nothing well lasting.
Merel	Promote yourself and you will not be believed; Pride yourself and you will not endure.
Mitchell	He who has power over others can't empower himself. He who clings to his work will create nothing that endures.
Muller	If you boast, you will have no merit. If you promote yourself, you will have no success.
Red Pine	who flatters himself achieves nothing who parades himself doesn't lead
Ta-Kao	A man who praises himself cannot have merit; A man who glories in himself cannot excel:
Walker	A man who brags will not endure.
Wieger	Through boasting about oneself, one becomes discredited. Through pushing oneself, one ceases to be augmented.
World	Boasting impresses no one. Brag and you may be put to the te
Wu	One who boasts of his own ability has no merit. One who parades his own success will not endure.

Ch. 24	Sentence 4
Beck	According to the Way these are like extra food and waste, which all creatures detest. Therefore followers of the Way avoid them.
Blackney	To persons of the Way, these traits Can only bring distrust; they seem Like extra food for parasites. So those who choose the Way, Will never give them place.
Bynner	But, according to the way of life, Brings the ills that make him unfit, Make him unclean in the eyes of his neighbour, And a sane man will have none of them.
Byrn	Compared to the Tao, these actions are unworthy. If we are to follow the Tao, we must not do these things.
Chan	From the point of view of Tao, these are like remnants of food and tumours of action, Which all creatures detest. Therefore those who possess Tao turn away from them.
Cleary	On the Way, these are called overconsumption and excess activity. Some people disdain them, so those with the Way abstain.
Crowley	Such attitudes, to him that has the view given by understanding the Dao, seem like garbage or like cancer, abhorrent to all. They then who follow the Way do not admit them.
Hansen	When these are in guides, we say: 'Excess provision; redundant action.' Some natural kinds avoid them. Hence those who have guides don't place them.
LaFargue	In Tao this is called 'Stuffing oneself','overdoing it.' Things seem to detest this, so the ambitious man does not dwell here.
Legge	Such conditions, viewed from the standpoint of the Tao, are like remnants of food, or a tumour on the body, which all dislike. Hence those who pursue (the course) of the Tao do not adopt and allow them.
Mabry	Compared to the Tao, these people are table scraps and wasted effort, and not well- liked by anyone or anything. So, if you follow the Tao, you will not live like that.
McDonald	Such people are like remnants of food and tumours of action from the dao point of view. Good braggarts could be dregs. So it's said "Pass round superfluous dishes to those that have already had enough, Such things of disgust all are likely to detest and reject in disgust." So the man of dao spurns them. The man that has dao doesn't stay to bray and show off.
Merel	These behaviours are wasteful, indulgent, And so they attract disfavour; Harmony avoids them.
Mitchell	If you want to accord with the Tao, just do your job, then let go.
Muller	Those who abide in the Tao call these Leftover food and wasted action And all things dislike them. Therefore the person of the Tao does not act like this.
Red Pine	on the road they say too much food and a tiring pace some things are simply bad thus the Taoist avoids them
Ta-Kao	These, when compared with Tao, are-called; 'Excess in food and overdoing action.' Even in other things, mostly, they are rejected; Therefore the man of Tao does not stay with them.
Walker	To a person of Tao, these things are excess food and superfluous behaviour. Because nothing good can come of them, he doesn't indulge in them.
Wieger	In the light of the Principle all these ways of acting are odious, distasteful. They are superfluous excesses. They are like a pain in the stomach, a tumour in the body. He who has principles (in conformity with the Principle), does not act like this.
World	Within the oneness of Infinity, all these are delusions of the physical world. They do not bring peace and harmony. Be at one with Infinity and keep these in perspective. They are transient excesses in a transient universe
Wu	In Tao these things are called "unwanted food and extraneous growths," Which are loathed by all things. Hence, a man of Tao does not set his heart upon them.