Galleries and Translations > Recent Works / Taoism > If one does not pursue personal feats-one shall never face defeat 無事無敗
Background information
This phrase is a summary of a passage found in Laozi’s (老子) Tao Te Ching (《道德經》):
第六十四章為者敗之, 執者失之。是以聖人無為故無敗, 無執故無失。Chapter 64Those who act with personal differentiations and intents (為) shall eventually fail, and those who hold (執) shall eventually lose hold. This is why the wise sages do not act with any personal differentiation and intent and so never fail; they do not hold and thus never lose hold. (1)
“Not acting with any personal differentiation and intent (無為)" does not mean one should not act at all. Laozi merely espoused one should act to follow Tao, the fundamental way of the Universe, instead of following one’s personal differentiations and intents. Following Tao ensures one not to be defeated at all times, for the natural Tao never fails. For further discussion on “無為” , see An English Translation and the Correct Interpretation of Laozi’s Tao Te Ching (2).
“事” in "無事無敗" refers not to “any matter” but refers to “great accomplishments (偉立之功)”, as indicated in Kangxi Dictionary (《康熙字典》): “《釋名》事, 偉也. 偉立也. 凡所立之功也." For further elaboration on “無事” in Tao Te Ching, see An English Translation and the Correct Interpretation of Laozi’s Tao Te Ching (3).
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2. Ibid., p. 78.
3. Ibid., p. 145.
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