Jul. 30, 2020

Living Without Weapons

Weapons are the tools of violence;

all decent men detest them.

Therefore, followers of the Tao never use them.

Arms serve evil.

They are the tools of those who oppose wise rule.

Use them only as a last resort.

For peace and quiet are dearest to the decent man's heart,

and to him even a victory is no cause for rejoicing.

He who thinks triumph beautiful

is one with a will to kill,

and one with a will to kill

shall never prevail upon the world.

It is a good sign when man's higher nature

comes forward.

A bad sign when his lower nature comes forward.

With the slaughter of multitudes,

we have grief and sorrow.

Every victory is a funeral;

when you win a war,

you celebrate by mourning.

~31st Verse of the Tao Te Ching

(Translated by Dr. Wayne Dyer)