Chapter 35 As a leader, you need to realize

 

Chapter 35

執大象,下下往,往而不害,安平泰。樂與餌,過客止。道之出言,淡兮其無味,視之不足見,聽之不足聞,用之不足既。

zhi da xiang, xia xia
wang
執大象,下下往

As a leader, you need to realize the whole picture of society. You need to reach down to the bottom of it to realize how poor is the way the people live.

wang er bu hai, an
ping tai
往而不害,安平泰

When the bottom of society does not suffer anymore, this society will then be regarded as stable, peaceful and happy.

le yu er, guo ke zhi
樂與餌,過客止

Pleasure and good food are tempting. It is good to enjoy them a little occasionally like a traveler enjoying exotic experience. They come and go.

dao zhi chu yan, dan
xi qi wu wei
道之出言,淡兮其無味

The voice of dao is plain and without any human passion, sentiments and emotion.

shi zhi bu zu jian
視之不足見

It is more than we are able to see.

ting zhi bu zu wen
聽之不足聞

It is more than we are able to hear.

yong zhi bu zu ji
用之不足既

It is more than we are able to use.