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Tao Te Ching · 68 of 81
He who in (Tao’s) wars has skill Assumes no martial port; He who fights with most good will To rage makes no resort. He who vanquishes yet still Keeps from his foes apart; He whose hests men most fulfil Yet humbly plies his art.
Thus we say, ‘He ne’er contends, And therein is his might.’ Thus we say, ‘Men’s wills he bends, That they with him unite.’ Thus we say, ‘Like Heaven’s his ends, No sage of old more bright.’
Asked of Guide
Why does Lao Tzu praise a skilled warrior who appears humble and avoids fighting?
Lao Tzu describes a commander whose power shows through restraint: he “assumes no martial port,” wins without rousing rage, and keeps distance from conquered foes. The chapter says strength lies in noncontention—victory comes when men unite with him and his aims resemble Heaven’s, so force becomes unnecessary.
This passage values skill that prevents battle rather than glorifies it, echoing Chuang Tzu’s idea of the weapon you never need to grasp and the Sayings of Lao Tzu that call victors to funeral rites. Both texts argue that true mastery secures peace, not spectacle, and thus preserves life and order.
Guide is the guide inside the Gnosis app, where every book on these shelves is free to read. Guide is the part you pay for — your guide has read all of them, and answers about the passage you’re actually on. Ask your guide your own question.
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