{
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    "schema_version": "1.1",
    "endpoint": "/api/sources/tao-te-ching/31-chapter-31.json"
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  "work": {
    "slug": "tao-te-ching",
    "name": "Tao Te Ching"
  },
  "parents": [],
  "chapter": {
    "num": 31,
    "slug": "31-chapter-31",
    "title": "Chapter 31 — Arms as Instruments of Ill-Omen",
    "of": 81,
    "words": 206,
    "text": "## Chapter 31\n\n\nNow arms, however beautiful, are instruments of evil omen,\nhateful, it may be said, to all creatures. Therefore they who have\nthe Tao do not like to employ them.\n\nThe superior man ordinarily considers the left hand the most\nhonourable place, but in time of war the right hand. Those sharp\nweapons are instruments of evil omen, and not the instruments of the\nsuperior man;--he uses them only on the compulsion of necessity. Calm\nand repose are what he prizes; victory (by force of arms) is to him\nundesirable. To consider this desirable would be to delight in the\nslaughter of men; and he who delights in the slaughter of men cannot\nget his will in the kingdom.\n\nOn occasions of festivity to be on the left hand is the prized\nposition; on occasions of mourning, the right hand. The second in\ncommand of the army has his place on the left; the general commanding\nin chief has his on the right;--his place, that is, is assigned to him\nas in the rites of mourning. He who has killed multitudes of men\nshould weep for them with the bitterest grief; and the victor in\nbattle has his place (rightly) according to those rites.",
    "project_translation": false,
    "license": null,
    "methodology_url": null
  }
}