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It does not want to master them；
and so it should be called 憈he Great？
Because it never strives for greatness；
it achieves the great。
35
Grasp the image of the Great and the world will come to you；
will come unharmed
in overwhelming happiness。
Music and fine food may make a traveller pause；
yet words about the DAO
may seem bland and flavourless。
If you look for it； it is imperceptible。
If you listen for it； it is inaudible。
If you use it； it is inexhaustible。
36
If you want to shrink something；
you first must stretch it out。
If you want to weaken something；
you first must strengthen it。
If you want to abandon something；
you first must establish it。
If you want to take something；
you first must give it。
This is called the mystery of enlightenment。
The soft and weak will overcome the hard and strong。
Just as fish should not be taken from the deep；
a country抯 weapons
should not be shown to anyone。
37
The DAO never acts； yet nothing is not done。
If rulers could hold fast to it；
all things upon the earth
would be transformed spontaneously。
If transformation should waken old desires；
they would be calmed by the nameless； uncarved block。
The nameless； uncarved block
is but freedom from desire。
Freedom from desire brings stillness； harmony；
and all the world is naturally at peace。
38
The greatest DE is not conscious of the DE；
and so is truly DE。
The lowest DE is always conscious of the DE；
and so is truly without DE。
The highest DE never acts；
yet nothing is not done。
The lowest DE is for ever acting；
yet everything remains undone。
Those of greatest kindliness act without ulterior intent。
Those of greatest rectitude act with ulterior intent。
Those of greatest propriety act； but when no one responds；
they bear their arms and use brute force。
When the DAO is lost； DE remains。
When DE is lost； kindheartedness remains。
When kindheartedness is lost； morality remains。
When morality is lost； only etiquette is left。
Etiquette is the veneer of loyalty and good faith
and the beginning of disaster。
Foresight is a flowery trapping of the DAO
and the beginning of folly。
Great people set their minds upon the substance； not the surface；
on the fruit and not the flower。
They reject the one and accept the other。
39
From ancient times； these things have attained a oneness with the DAO：
heaven attains oneness and becomes clear；
earth attains oneness and becomes serene；
spirits attain oneness and become strong；
valleys attain oneness and become full；
all things attain oneness and become alive；
rulers attain oneness and become just。
It is oneness that makes them what they are。
Without clarity； heaven would split；
without serenity； earth would sink；
without strength； spirits would dissolve；
without fullness； valleys would run dry；
without livingness； all things would be destroyed；
without justice； rulers would be toppled。
So greatness must have humility as its root；
the high must have the low as its foundation。
When rulers call themselves 慳lone？or 慸esolate？or 憌orthless？
do they not make humility their root？
And so the ultimate renown is to be without renown；
do not seek to shine like jade； but to drop down like a stone。
40
The movement of the DAO is to return；
the way of the DAO is to yield。
Everything on earth is born of Being；
but Being is born of the nothingness of DAO。
41
When wise students hear about the DAO；
they follow it with care。
When ordinary students hear about the DAO；
they sometimes believe in it； and sometimes doubt。
When foolish students hear about the DAO；
they laugh at it out loud。
If they did not laugh at it； it would not be the DAO。
There are these age…old sayings：
the brightest way seems dark；
the way forward seems like retreat；
the way that is smooth seems to be rough；
the highest goodness seems quite empty；
the purest whiteness seems to be soiled；
the vastest goodness seems insufficient；
the staunchest goodness seems to be frail；
the most solid reality seems to change。
The greatest square has no corners；
the greatest talents ripen late；
the greatest music has no sound；
the greatest images have no form。
The DAO is hidden； beyond all name；
and yet it is the DAO that nourishes and fulfils all things。
42
The DAO gave birth to One。
One gave birth to Two。
Two gave birth to Three。
Three gave birth to everything there is。
Everything there is carries on its back the shade of yin *
and in its arms the sun of yang；
and blends the vital breath of each
to achieve a harmony。
Nothing is more loathed by people than to be
alone； or desolate； or worthless。
Yet these are the very titles that
kings and princes give themselves。
By losing； one may gain。
By gaining； one may lose。
What others teach； I also teach：
慣he violent and strong will never die a natural death。？br》 That is the basis of my teaching。
* fu yin er bao yang： carries on its back the shade of yin / and in its arms the sun of yang
the reference here is； of course； to the fundamental contrast and duality between yin； the negative； female principle； and yang； the active； male principle。 A simple translation of the five Chinese characters would be 慶arries yin but enfolds yang？ However； such a baldly stated contrast can be effectively developed by drawing in two closely implied antitheses： 憇hade？and 憇un？ and 憃n its back？and 慽n its arms？ And so the version here reads； 慶arries on its back the shade of yin / and in its arms the sun of yang？
43
The softest things in all the world
can overcome the hardest things in all the world。
Only Nothingness can penetrate spacelessness。
That is why I understand the benefit of not acting。
The teaching that is wordless； the benefit of not acting …
seldom in the world are these things understood。
44
Which is more precious； fame or self？
which is worth more； self or wealth？
which is more harmful； winning or losing？
The stronger your love； the greater the price；
the larger your hoard； the heavier the loss。
Knowing what is enough frees you from shame；
knowing when you should stop frees you from danger。
Only so can you live a long life。
45
The greatest perfection seems imperfect；
yet use will never wear it out。
The greatest fullness seems quite empty；
yet use will never drain it dry。
The greatest straightness looks like crookedness；
the greatest skill like clumsiness；
the greatest eloquence like stammering。
Restlessness defeats the cold；
but stillness overcomes the heat。
Serenity and