After the Quarrel

报怨以德

Bào Yuàn Yǐ Dé

Settle a great quarrel and a grudge is always left over. Keep your side of the agreement and do not press the other; the way of heaven has no favourites and stays with the good.

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5 sentences · 4 notes

和hé大dà怨yuàn，必bì有yǒu余yú怨yuàn；报bào怨yuàn以yǐ德dé，安ān可kě以yǐ为wéi善shàn？

1When a reconciliation is effected (between two parties) after a great animosity, there is sure to be a grudge remaining (in the mind of the one who was wrong).

2And how can this be beneficial (to the other)?

是shì以yǐ圣shèng人rén执zhí左zuǒ契qì，而ér不bù责zé于yú人rén。

3Therefore (to guard against this), the sage keeps the left-hand portion of the record of the engagement, and does not insist on the (speedy) fulfilment of it by the other party.

有yǒu德dé司sī契qì，无wú德dé司sī彻chè。

4(So), he who has the attributes (of the Tao) regards (only) the conditions of the engagement, while he who has not those attributes regards only the conditions favourable to himself.

天tiān道dào无wú亲qīn，常cháng与yǔ善shàn人rén。

5In the Way of Heaven, there is no partiality of love; it is always on the side of the good man.

Chinese commentary · 4 notes

The notes printed with this chapter in Chinese editions, kept in Chinese, for readers who come to the text that way.

1左契：债权人所持的契约。古代以竹木简为契约，分左右两片，债权人执左片，故称左契。

2司契：古代贵族所用的管账人。

3彻：是周代田税法，指十一税。

4与：给，赠。

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Read this chapter in Chinese · 报怨以德