War
Tools of violence
number thirty-one
- As for weapons - they are instruments of ill omen;
- And among creatures there are those that hate them.
- Therefore, who is a follower of Tao, never use them.
- When the wise man is at home, he prefers the left.
- When at war, he honors the right.
- Therefore, they are not a wise man's tools.
- Weapons are instruments of ill omen;
- When you have no choice to use them,
- It is best to remain trnquil and calm.
- You should never look upon them
- As things of beauty.
- If you see them as beautiful things -
- This is to delight the killing of men.
- And when you delight in the killing of men;
- You will not realize your goal in the land.
tools of violence
contnued
- Therefore, on happy occasions we honor the left,
- But in mourning we honor the right.
- Therefore, in the army the general stands on the left,
- And the commander-in-chief stands on the right.
- Which is so to say, that war is conducted like a funeral.
- When multitudes of people are killed,
- We stand before them in sorrow and grief.
- When we are victorious in battle,
- e treat the occasion like a funeral ceremony.
