The Tao of Greg
29.
Those who would take over the earth
and shape it to their will
never, I notice, succeed.
The earth is a sacred vessel
and it cannot be owned or improved
If you try to tamper with it you will destroy it:
If you try to hold on to it, it will be gone
For indeed there are things
that must move ahead,
while others must lag;
And some that feel hot,
while others feel cold;
And some that are strong,
while others are weak;
And vigorous ones,
with others worn out.
Therefore the sage avoids extremes, excesses
and arrogance.
30.
One who would guide a leader of men in the uses of life
will warn him against the use of arms for conquest.
Weapons often turn against the wielder,
An army's harvest is a waste of thorns,
Conscription of a multitude of men
drains the next year dry.
A good general, daring to march, dares also to halt,
Will never press his triumph beyond need.
What he must do he does but not for glory,
What he must do he does but not for show,
What he must do he does but not for self;
He has done it because it had to be done.
Overdoing things invites decay,
and this is against the Tao.
Whatever is against the Tao soon ceases to be.
31.
Weapons are the tools of violence;
All decent men detest them.
The gentlemen give precedence to the left when at home,
but to the right when he goes to war.
Arms are instruments of ill omen,
not the instruments of the gentleman.
When compelled to use them,
it is best to do so without relish.
There is no glory in victory,
and to glorify it despite this is to exult in the killing of men.
One who exults in the killing of men
will never have his way in the empire.
On occasions of rejoicing precedence is given to the left;
On occasions of mourning precedence is given to the right.
A lieutenant's place is on the left;
The general's place is on the right.
This means that it is mourning rites that are observed.
The death of a multitude is cause for mourning:
Conduct your triumph as a funeral.
32.
The way is eternally nameless
The uncarved block, though small
is greater than anything that is under heaven
Should lords and princes be able to hold fast to it
the myriad creatures will submit of their own accord
heaven and earth will unite and sweet dew will fall
Without law or compulsion men would dwell in harmony
Once the block is carved there will be names
Once there are names one should know when to stop
Only by knowing when to stop can danger be avoided
The world is to the way
as the streams and rivers flowing into the sea
