Chapter 67 · Three Precious Things

Tao Te Ching (Legge, 1891) · chapter title added by Learn the Dao

Learn the Dao: a quiet practice for learning the thing that can’t be known.

The chapter’s first line

All the world says that, while my Tao is great,

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This chapter in plain modern English — David Kooi’s rendering ↓

All the world says that, while my Tao is great, it yet appears to be inferior (to other systems of teaching). Now it is just its greatness that makes it seem to be inferior. If it were like any other (system), for long would its smallness have been known! But I have three precious things which I prize and hold fast. The first is gentleness; the second is economy; and the third is shrinking from taking precedence of others. With that gentleness I can be bold; with that economy I can be liberal; shrinking from taking precedence of others, I can become a vessel of the highest honour. Now-a-days they give up gentleness and are all for being bold; economy, and are all for being liberal; the hindmost place, and seek only to be foremost;--(of all which the end is) death. Gentleness is sure to be victorious even in battle, and firmly to maintain its ground. Heaven will save its possessor, by his (very) gentleness protecting him.

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Chapter 67, in a second rendering

Three Things Held Close

Dao De Kooi — an original rendering by David Kooi

Everyone says my Way is big but kind of useless-looking. The bigness is exactly why it looks useless - if it looked like anything in particular, it would've gotten small a long time ago. I keep three things and hold them close. Compassion. Not needing much. And not shoving myself to the front. Compassion is where the real nerve comes from. Not needing much is what lets you be generous. Not grabbing the front spot is what makes you fit to lead. Ditch the compassion and just be brave, ditch the restraint and just be lavish, ditch the humility and just charge ahead - that's a straight line to dead. Compassion wins the fight and holds the wall. When the sky wants to save someone, it arms them with compassion.

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