Tao Te Ching: XXXI

Lao Tzu

Originale

English translation by Gia-fu Feng and Jane English

TAO TE CHING: XXXI 第三十一章 夫唯兵者，不祥之器，物或你之禺。 君子居則貴左，用兵則貴右。左、州 不得已而用之，隨淡為上。； 夫樂殺人者，則不可得志于天計笑。 吉事尚左，凶事尚右。偏將軍居左，上 殺人之眾，以悲表泣之，戰勝以喪宅 不處。 之莽，非君子之器， 柄之者，是樂殺人。 軍居右，百以喪禮處之。 疋匹0

TAO TE CHING - LAO TZU - CHAPTER 31 Good weapons are instruments of fear; all creatures hate them. Therefore followers of the Tao never used them. The wise man prefers the left. The man of war prefers the right. Weapons are instruments of fear; they are not a wise man's tools. He uses them only when he has no choice. Peace and quiet are dear to his heart. And victory no cause for rejoicing. If you rejoice in victory, then you delight in killing; If you delight in killing, you cannot fulfill yourself. On happy occasions precedence is given to the left, On sad occasions to the right. In the army the general stands on the left, The commander-in-chief on the right. This means that war is conducted like a funeral. When many people are being killed, They should be mourned in heartfelt sorrow. That is why a victory must be observed like a funeral.