War

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter six of the Sayings of Laotsu by laud Su,
translated by Lionel Giles. This LibriVox recording is in the
public domain recording by Nemo War. He who serves a
ruler of men in harmony with Tao will not subdue

(00:21):
the empire by force of arms. Such a course is
wont to bring retribution in its train. Where troops have
been quartered, brambles and thorns spring up in the track
of great armies. There must follow lean years. The good
man wins a victory and then stops. He will not
go on to acts of violence. Winning he boasteth not,

(00:43):
He will not triumph. He shows no arrogance. He wins
because he cannot choose. After his victory. He will not
be overbearing. Weapons, however beautiful, are instruments of ill omen,
hateful to all creatures. Therefore he who has taw will

(01:03):
have nothing to do with them. Where the princely man abides,
the weak left hand is in honor, but he who
uses weapons honors the stronger right. Weapons are instruments of
ill omen. They are not the instruments of the princely man,
who uses them only when he needs must peace and
tranquility are what he prizes. When he conquers, he is

(01:27):
not the late to be elate or to rejoice in
the slaughter of human beings. And he who rejoices in
the slaughter of human beings is not fit to work
his will in the empire on happy occasions. The leftists
favored on sad occasions the right. The second in command

(01:48):
has his place on the left, the general in chief
on the right. That is to say, they are placed
in the order observed of funeral rites. And indeed, he
who is ex di terminated a great multitude of men
should bewail them with tears and lamentation. It is well
that those who are victorious in battle should be placed

(02:10):
in the order of funeral rights. A certain military commander
used to say, I dare not act the host. I
prefer to play the guest. I dare not advance an inch.
I prefer to retreat a foot. There is no greater
calamity than lightly engaging in war. Likely to engage in

(02:31):
war is to risk the loss of our treasure when
opposing warriors join in battle. He who is pity conquers,
and of war