Tao Te Ching Verse 31: Winning is Losing

Send us a textTao Te Ching Verse 31translated by Ellen Marie ChenMilitary weapons are implements (ch'i) of ill omen,Avoided (o) even by natural creatures (wu).Hence the Taoist does not indulge (ch'u) in them.The sage person (chün-tzu) in dwelling honors the left,In military campaigns honors the right.Hence military weapons are not implements of a princely person.Military weapons, being implements of ill omen,Are to be employed only in dire necessity.Better to regard them with lack of interest...