Shruti - Smriti

Waley
He who has the least scrap of sense, Once he has got started on the great highway has nothing to fear So long as he avoids turnings. For great highways are safe and easy. But men love by-paths. So long as Court is in order They are content to let their fields run to weed And their granaries stand empty. They wear patterns and embroideries, Carry sharp swords, glut themselves with drink and food, Have more possessions than they can use. These are the riotous ways of brigandage; they (…)

Waley
That which was the beginning of all things under heaven We may speak of as the “mother” of all things. He who apprehends the mother Thereby knows the sons. And he who has known the sons, Will hold all the tighter to the mother, And to the end of his days suffer no harm; “Block the passages, shut the doors, And till the end your strength shall not fail. Open up the passages, increase your doings, And till your last day no help shall come to you.” As good sight means seeing what is (…)

Waley
Tao gave them birth; The “power” of Tao reared them, Shaped them according to their kinds, Perfected them, giving to each its strength. Therefore Of the ten thousand things there is not one that does not worship Tao And do homage to its “power”. No mandate ever went forth that accorded to Tao the right to be worshipped, Nor to its “power” the right to be worshipped, Nor to its “power” the right to receive homage. It was always and of itself so. Therefore as Tao bore them and the (…)

Waley
He who aims at life achieves death. If the “companions of life” are thirteen, So likewise are the “companions of death” thirteen. How is it that the “death-stops” in man’s life And activity are also thirteen? It is because men feed life too grossly. It is said that he who has a true hold on life, When he walks on land does not meet tigers or wild buffaloes; In battle he is not touched by weapons of war. Indeed, A buffalo that attacked him would find nothing for its horns to butt, A (…)

Waley
The Sage has no heart of his own; He uses the heart of the people as his heart. Of the good man I approve, But of the bad I also approve, And thus he gets goodness. The truthful man I believe, but the liar I also believe, And thus he gets truthfulness. The Sage, in the dealings with the world, seems like one dazed with fright; For the world’s sake be dulls his wits. The Hundred Families all the time strain their eyes and ears, The Sage all the time sees and hears no more than an (…)

Waley
Learning consists in adding to one’s stock day by day; The practice of Tao consists in “subtracting day by day, Subtracting and yet again subtracting Till one has reached inactivity. But by this very inactivity Everything can be activated.” Those who of old won the adherence of all who live under heaven All did so not interfering. Had they interfered, They would never have won this adherence.
Wieger
A. Par l’étude, on multiplie chaque jour (dans sa mémoire les notions (…)

Waley
Without leaving his door He knows everything under heaven. Without looking out of his window He knows all the ways of heaven. For the further one travels The less one knows. Therefore the Sage arrives without going, Sees all without looking, Does nothing, yet achieves everything.
Wieger
A. Sans sortir par la porte, on peut connaître tout le monde ; sans regarder par la fenêtre, on peut se rendre compte des voies du ciel (principes qui régissent toutes choses). — Plus on va (…)

Waley
When there is Tao in the empire The galloping steeds are turned back to fertilize the ground by their droppings. When there is not Tao in the empire War horses will be reared even on the sacred mounds below the city walls. (No lure is greater than to possess what others want,) No disaster greater than not to be content with what one has, No presage of evil greater than men should be wanting to get more. Truly: “He who has once known the contentment that comes simply through being (…)

Waley
What is most perfect seems to have something missing; Yet its use is unimpaired. What is most full seems empty; Yet its use will never fail. What is most straight seems crooked; The greatest skill seems like clumsiness, The greatest eloquence like stuttering. Movement overcomes cold; But staying still overcomes heat. So he by his limpid calm Puts right everything under heaven.
Wieger
A. Accompli, sous des dehors imparfaits, et donnant sans s’user. Rempli, sans le paraître, et (…)

Waley
Fame or one’s own self, which matters to one most? One’s own self or things bought, which should count most? In the getting or the losing, which is worse? Hence he who grudges expense pays dearest in the end; He who has hoarded most will suffer the heaviest loss. Be content with what you have and are, and no one can despoil you; Who stops in time nothing can harm. He is forever safe and secure.
Wieger
A. Le corps n’est il pas plus important que la renommée ? La vie n’est elle (…)