Monday, July 30, 2012

Line by Line - Verse 78, Lines 2-3

and yet for attacking things that are firm and strong there is nothing that can take precedence of it; for there is nothing (so effectual) for which it can be changed.
~ James Legge translation, from The Sacred Books of the East, 1891 ~

Yet for attacking the solid and strong, nothing is better;
It has no equal.

~ Gia-fu Feng and Jane English translation, published by Vintage Books, 1989 ~

Yet nothing is better at overcoming the hard and strong
This is because nothing can replace it

~ Derek Lin translation, from Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained, published by SkyLight Paths, 2006 ~

Yet, given time,
it can erode even the hardest stone.

~ Ron Hogan rendition, from Beatrice.com, 2004 ~
Looking at a pool of water in a bowl, it appears so placid and docile. It doesn't look like a force of any type; it just lays there.

But water can certainly be a force. Just ask anyone who has lived through a flood!

When water doesn't appear to be doing much of anything, as Ron Hogan points out, it is eroding whatever it is that seeks to contain it, "even the hardest stone."

To view the Index page for this series to see what you may have missed or would like to read again, go here.

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