the short of it:
Wise people do not celebrate violence. They mourn it.
31. ‘Stilling War.’
31.1 Now arms, however beautiful, are instruments of evil omen, hateful, it may be said, to all creatures. Therefore they who have the Tao do not like to employ them.
31.2 The superior [person] ordinarily considers the left hand the most honourable place, but in time of war the right hand. Those sharp weapons are instruments of evil omen, and not the instruments of the superior [person; -they use] them only on the compulsion of necessity. Calm and repose are what [they prize] victory (by force of arms) is to [them] undesirable. To consider this desirable would be to delight in the slaughter of [people]; and [those] who [delight] in the slaughter of [people] cannot get [their] will in the kingdom.
31.3 On occasions of festivity to be on the left hand is the prized position; on occasions of mourning, the right hand. The second in command of the army has [their] place on the left; the general commanding in chief has [theirs] on the right; -[their] place, that is, is assigned to [them] as in the rites of mourning. [Those] who [have] killed multitudes of [people] should weep for them with the bitterest grief; and the victor in battle has [their] place (rightly) according to those rites.
31. (Untitled).
Weapons, however beautiful, are instruments of ill omen, hateful to all creatures. Therefore [those] who [have] Tao will have nothing to do with them.
Where the princely [person] abides, the weak left hand is in honour. But [those] who [use] weapons [honour] the stronger right. Weapons are instruments of ill omen; they are not the instruments of the princely [person], who uses them only when [] needs must. Peace and tranquillity are what [they prize]. When [they conquer, they are] not elate. To be elate were to rejoice in the slaughter of human beings. And [those] who [rejoice] in the slaughter of human beings [are] not fit to work [their] will in the Empire. On happy occasions, the left is favoured; on sad occasions, the right. The second in command has [their] place on the left, the general in chief on the right. That is to say, they are placed in the order observed at funeral rites. And, indeed, [those] who [have] exterminated a great multitude of [people] should bewail them with tears and lamentation. It is well that those who are victorious in battle should be placed in the order of funeral rites.
Lao Tzu. Lionel Giles. The Sayings of Lao Tzŭ. United Kingdom: Orient Press, 1904.
31. Quelling War.
31.1 Even victorious arms are unblest among tools, and people had better shun them. Therefore [those] who [have] Reason [do] not rely on them.
31.2 The superior [person] when residing at home honors the left. When using arms, [they honor] the right.
31.3 Arms are unblest among tools and not the superior [person]’s tools. Only when it is unavoidable [they use] them. Peace and quietude [they] holdeth high.
31.4 [They conquer] but [rejoice] not. Rejoicing at a conquest means to enjoy the slaughter of [people]. [Those] who [enjoy] the slaughter of [people] will most assuredly not obtain [their] will in the empire.
