Lao Tze Encouraged 無爭 and 不爭

[ChiDragon]

In the TTC, besides 無為, Lao Tze was advocating 無爭and 不爭.

爭: contend; compete, conflict; etc.

What would be the closest translation for 不爭....???

What is the best translation for this phrase....???
聖人之道為而不爭




PS....
This is not a challenge, I just want to come up with a good finalized translation of the TTC with all the helps that I can get. I would like to work the right choice of words, so, it won't be contentious.

Edited October 4, 2013 by ChiDragon

[ChiDragon]

無爭: No conflict

不爭; avoid conflicts; do not provoke; uncontentious;

聖人之道為而不爭
To conduct with the manner as a sage is to be uncontentious.


Note:
Does the English need to be improved....??? Thanks.

Edited October 4, 2013 by ChiDragon

[Marblehead]

無爭: No conflict

 

不爭; avoid conflicts; do not provoke; uncontentious;

 

聖人之道為而不爭

To conduct with the manner as a sage is to be uncontentious.

 

 

Note:

Does the English need to be improved....??? Thanks.

How about:

 

To conduct oneself in the manner of a sage is to be uncontentious.

[ChiDragon]

How about:

 

To conduct oneself in the manner of a sage is to be uncontentious.

 

That is fine. Thanks!

Can you make it sound like a philosophical statement instead of an advice....???

 

Can you treat the "manner of a sage" as the subject....??? Thanks!

[Marblehead]

Actually, "To conduct" and "with the manner" is redundant in their above order.

 

However, if you still need to keep both then perhaps:

 

The manner of a sage is to be uncontentious in his conduct.

 

 

Edit to add:

 

Of course, if you could justify using the word "way" as a replacemnt for "manner" then we would have:

 

The way of a sage is to be uncontentious in his conduct.

Edited October 5, 2013 by Marblehead

[ChiDragon]

Actually, "To conduct" and "with the manner" is redundant in their above order.

 

However, if you still need to keep both then perhaps:

 

The manner of a sage is to be uncontentious in his conduct.

 

 

Edit to add:

 

Of course, if you could justify using the word "way" as a replacemnt for "manner" then we would have:

 

The way of a sage is to be uncontentious in his conduct.

 

Thanks MH...

I think we have it down pack.

 

聖人之道: The way of a sage

為: to be conducted

而不爭: but uncontentious.

 

聖人之道為而不爭

The way of a sage is to be conducted but not contentious.

 

This is more close to the original thought, but does it sound OK in English....???

 

 

[Marblehead]

 

The way of a sage is to be conducted but not contentious.

 

This is more close to the original thought, but does it sound OK in English....???

 

 

Hehehe. Yes, it sounds okay in English after a second reading. My response after the first reading was "What?"

 

The way of the sage is to (attend to) (conduct) his affairs without contention.

 

(I'm just playing with the concept now.)