Tao Te Ching – verse 69

The master soldiers have a saying:

I dare not be the host but prefer to be the guest.

I dare not advance an inch but prefer to retreat a foot.

This is called marching without moving,

rolling up a sleeve without baring an arm,

capturing a foe without a battlefront,

arming yourself without weapons.

There is no disaster greater than attacking and finding no enemy.

Doing so will cost you your treasure.

Thus it is that when opposing forces meet,

victory will go to those who take no delight in the situation.



Ed note: posted in response to the announcement of Bin Laden's death...

Comments

Dennis/87 said…
Hey JP I absolutely take no delight or refuge at the current preditor reality. Denzo
Jack Heart said…
When they announced Bin Laden's death, I felt sadness... hollowness... futility.

Celebrate death with more death?

Wasn’t 3000 deaths on 9/11… Followed by 3000 US military deaths and countless Iraqi and Afgani deaths over the last decade enough?
Anonymous said…
I personally tend to understand better and feel more identified with this version:

"
The generals have a saying:
"Rather than make the first move
it is better to wait and see.
Rather than advance an inch
it is better to retreat a yard."
This is called going forward without advancing,
pushing back without using weapons.
There is no greater misfortune
than underestimating your enemy.
Underestimating your enemy
means thinking that he is evil.
Thus you destroy your three treasures
and become an enemy yourself.
When two great forces oppose each other,
the victory will go
to the one that knows how to yield.
"
Stephen Mitchell

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