Tao Te Ching Chapter 67: The Three Treasures
Original Chinese Text
天下皆谓我道大，似不肖。
夫唯大，故似不肖。
若肖，久矣其细也夫！
我有三宝，持而保之。
一曰慈，二曰俭，三曰不敢为天下先。
慈故能勇；俭故能广；
不敢为天下先，故能成器长。
今舍慈且勇，舍俭且广，
舍后且先，死矣！
夫慈，以战则胜，以守则固。
天将救之，以慈卫之。
Pinyin (Pronunciation)
Tiānxià jiē wèi wǒ dào dà, sì bù xiào.
Fú wéi dà, gù sì bù xiào.
Ruò xiào, jiǔ yǐ qí xì yě fú!
Wǒ yǒu sān bǎo, chí ér bǎo zhī.
Yī yuē cí, èr yuē jiǎn, sān yuē bù gǎn wéi tiānxià xiān.
Cí gù néng yǒng; jiǎn gù néng guǎng;
Bù gǎn wéi tiānxià xiān, gù néng chéng qì zhǎng.
Jīn shě cí qiě yǒng, shě jiǎn qiě guǎng,
Shě hòu qiě xiān, sǐ yǐ!
Fú cí, yǐ zhàn zé shèng, yǐ shǒu zé gù.
Tiān jiāng jiù zhī, yǐ cí wèi zhī.
Structured Translation & Interpretation
The Three Treasures System
| Treasure | Literal Translation | Modern Application | Paradoxical Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| 慈 (Compassion) | Motherly care | Ethical leadership | Creates true courage |
| 俭 (Frugality) | Economical simplicity | Sustainable systems | Enables expansion |
| 不敢为天下先 (Humility) | Not daring to lead the world | Servant leadership | Becomes chief instrument |
Warning Against Inversions
| Wrong Approach | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Courage without compassion | Destructive bravery |
| Expansion without frugality | Resource collapse |
| Leading without humility | Premature failure |
Plain English Paraphrase
- The Paradox of Greatness
- “My Tao seems formless because it’s too vast for labels”
- Treasure 1: Compassion
- “A mother’s love breeds unstoppable courage” (慈故能勇)
- “Compassion is the ultimate defense” (以守则固)
- Treasure 2: Frugality
- “Living simply creates abundance” (俭故能广) → Circular economy principle
- Treasure 3: Humility
- “Leading from behind cultivates true authority” (成器长)
- Cosmic Guarantee
- “Heaven protects the compassionate” (天将救之)
Key Philosophical Terms
| Chinese | Literal Meaning | Strategic Value |
|---|---|---|
| 不肖 | “Doesn’t resemble” | Transcends categories |
| 器长 | “Chief instrument” | Organic leadership |
| 以慈卫之 | “Guarded by compassion” | Divine protection |
Modern Applications
For Business
- Compassion: Patagonia’s environmental activism
- Frugality: Toyota’s “just-in-time” production
- Humility: Google’s “20% time” employee autonomy
For Geopolitics
- “Nuclear deterrence fails where compassion succeeds” (以战则胜)
“Like redwoods—their strength comes from interconnected roots, not solitary height.”
— Metaphor for 三宝 synergy
Connections to Other Chapters
- Chapter 69: “The compassionate win battles” → Military application
- Chapter 59: “Govern through frugality” → 俭’s deeper development
Would you like:
- Neuroscience evidence for compassion’s effectiveness?
- Historical cases of 不敢为天下先 leadership?
- Contrast with Ayn Rand’s objectivism?