Quotations from:

 

為學日益，為道日損。損之又損，以至于無為。

無為而無不為，取天下。常以無事，及有事，不足以取天下。

[老子]道德經，四十八章。

 

Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching. Translated by D.C. Lau. New York: Penguin Books, 1963, p.55.

“In the pursuit of learning one knows more everyday;

in the pursuit of the Way one does less everyday.

One does less and less until one does nothing at all,

and when one does nothing at all there is nothing that is undone.

It is always through not meddling that the empire is won.

Should you meddle, then you are not equal to the task of winning the empire.” [Ch.48]

 

Lao Tze, The Canon of Reason and Virtue. Translated by D.T. Suzuki & Paul Carus. La Salle, IL: Open Courts, 1974, p.49, 107.

“He who seeks learnedness will daily increase.

He who seeks Reason will daily diminish.

He will diminish until he arrives at non-assertion.

With non-assertion there is nothing that he cannot achieve.

When he takes the empire, it is always because he uses no diplomacy.

He who uses diplomacy is not fit to take the empire.” [p.107]

 

 

 

[Ch.48, p.107]