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Laozi

75

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民之飢,以其上食稅之多,是以飢。 民之難治,以其上之有為,是以難治。 民之輕死,以其求生之厚,是以輕死。 夫唯無以生為者,是賢於貴生。

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James Legge

75

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The people suffer from famine because of the multitude of taxes consumed by their superiors. It is through this that they suffer famine.

The people are difficult to govern because of the (excessive) agency of their superiors (in governing them). It is through this that they are difficult to govern.

The people make light of dying because of the greatness of their labours in seeking for the means of living. It is this which makes them think light of dying. Thus it is that to leave the subject of living altogether out of view is better than to set a high value on it.

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Victor H. Mair

75

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Human hunger is the result of overtaxation. For this reason, There is hunger. The common people are not governable because of their superiors’ actions. For this reason, They are not governable. The people make light of death because of too much emphasis on the quest for life. For this reason, They make light of death. Now, Only she who acts not for the sake of life Is wiser than those who value life highly.

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C. Spurgeon Medhurst

75

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The people suffer from famine because of the multitude of taxes consumed by their superiors. Because of this they suffer from famine. The people are difficult to govern because of the officiousness of their superiors; because of this they are difficult to govern. Men are continually [^1] dying because they lust after life; because of this they frequently die.

It is only those with whom life is no object who truly value life. [^2]

A warning to rulers and to ruled—The only safety of either a State or an individual is to Seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness. The more is grasped the less is possessed.

[^1] Literally—“readily,” “easily,” “without difficulty.”

[^2] Cf. chaps. 53, 65.

Huai-nan-tzu (B.C. 179) illustrates this chapter with a story: “Tzu-fei of the kingdom of King (the present provinces of Hunan and Hupeh) went to a certain place to obtain a very valuable two-edged sword. As he was returning with his prize a terrible storm overtook the vessel, and two scaly dragons wrapped themselves round the ship. Going to the captain Tzu-fei said, ‘If this continues how can we live?’ The captain confessed that it was the first time he had encountered such an experience, whereupon Tzu-fei bracing himself for a conflict, bared his arm and pulling his two-edged weapon from its sheath said, ‘One may discuss benevolence, righteousness and honor with heroes, but to waylay or capture them is impossible. Here, in the midst of this sea I am but a mass of rotten flesh and crumbling bones, though I lose my sword what matters it? Is there anything at all to which I cling?’ Leaping into the waters he thrust the dragons through and cut off their heads. He thus saved the lives of all his fellow passengers, and stilled the storm, and for this was subsequently suitably rewarded by his prince.”

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Ursula K. Le Guin

75

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People are starving. The rich gobble taxes, that’s why people are starving.

People rebel. The rich oppress them, that’s why people rebel.

People hold life cheap. The rich make it too costly, that’s why people hold it cheap.

But those who don’t live for the sake of living are worth more than the wealth-seekers.

Note UKLG: How many hundreds of years ago was this book written? And yet still this chapter must be written in the present tense.

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