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What others teach； I also teach。 The strong cannot master their death： I take this to be the father of teachings。
43
What is softest in the world drives what is hardest in the world。 Nonbeing enters where there is no room； that is how we know noncontrivance enhances。
Unspoken guidance and uncontrived enhancement are reached by few in the world。
44
Which is closer； your name or your body？ Which is more； your body or your possessions？ Which is more destructive； gain or loss？
Extreme fondness means great expense； and abundant possessions mean much loss。
If you know when you have enough； you will not be disgraced。 If you know when to stop； you will not be endangered。 It is possible thereby to live long。
45
Great completeness seems incomplete； its use is never exhausted。 Great fullness seems empty； its use is never ended。 Great directness seems restrained；
great skill seems inept； great eloquence seems inarticulate。
Movement overcomes cold； stillness overcomes heat。 Clear stillness is right for the world。
46
When the world has the Way； running horses are retired to till the fields。 When the world lacks the Way； war…horses are bred in the countryside。
No crime is greater than discontent； no fault is greater than possessiveness。
So the satisfaction of contentment is always enough。
47
They know the world without even going out the door。 They see the sky and its pattern without even looking out the window。
The further out it goes； the less knowledge is； therefore sages know without going； name without seeing； complete without striving。
48
For learning you gain daily； for the Way you lose daily。
Losing and losing； thus you reach noncontrivance； be uncontrived； and nothing is not done。 Taking the world is always done by not making anything of it。
For when something is made of it； that is not enough to take the world。
49
Sages have no fixed mind； they make the minds of the people their mind：
they improve the good； and also improve those who are not good； that virtue is good。
They make sure of the true； and they make sure of the untrue too； that virtue is sure。
The relation of sages to the world is one of concern： they cloud their minds for the world； all people pour into their ears and eye； and sages render them innocent。
50
Exiting life； we enter death。
The followers of life are three out of ten； the followers of death are three out of ten； in the lives of the people； the dying grounds on which they are agitated are also three out of ten。 What is the reason？ Because of the seriousness with which they take life as life。
It has been said that those who maintain life well do not meet rhinos or tigers on land and do not arm themselves in war。
There is no way for rhinos to gore them； there is no way for tigers to claw them； there is no way for weapons to get at them。 Why？ Because they have no dying ground。
51
The Way gives birth； virtue nurtures； things form； momentum completes。 Therefore all beings honor the Way and value its Virtue。
The honor of the Way and the value of Virtue are not granted by anyone； but are always naturally so。 So the Way gives birth and nurtures； makes grow and develops； completes and matures； builds up and breaks down。
It produces but does not possess； it acts without presumption； it fosters growth without ruling。 This is called hidden Virtue。
52
The world has a beginning that is the mother of the world。
Once you have found the mother； thereby you know the child。 Once you know the child； you return to keep the mother； not perishing though the body may die。
Close your eyes； shut your doors； and you do not toil all your life。
Open your eyes； carry out your affair； and you re not saved all your life。
Seeing the small is called clarity； keeping flexible is called strength。
Using the shining radiance； you return again to the light； not leaving anything to harm yourself。 This is called entering the eternal。
53
Causing one flashes of knowledge to travel the Great Way； only its application demands care。
The Great Way is quite even； yet people prefer byways。
When courts are extremely fastidious； the fields are seriously neglected； and the granaries are very empty；
They wear colorful clothing and carry sharp swords； eat and drink their fill and possess more than enough。 This is called the vanity of thieves； it is not the Way。
54
Good construction does not fall down； a good embrace does not let go； their heirs honor them unceasingly。
Cultivate it in yourself； and that virtue is real； cultivate it in the home； and that virtue is abundant； cultivate it in the locality； and that virtue lasts； cultivate it in the nation； and that virtue is rich； cultivate it in the world； and that virtue is universal。
So observe yourself by yourself； observe the home by the home； observe the locality by the locality； observe the nation by the nation； observe the world by the world。
How do I know the world is as it is？ By this。
55
The richness of subliminal virtue is comparable to an infant： poisonous creatures do not sting it； wild beasts do not claw it； predatory birds do not grab it。 Its tendons are flexible； yet its grip is firm。
Even while it knows not of the mating of male and female； its genitals get aroused； this is the epitome of vitality。
It can cry all day without choking or getting hoarse； this is the epitome of harmony。 Knowing harmony is called constancy； knowing constancy is called clarity；
enhancing life is called propitious； the mind mastering energy is called strong。
When beings climax in power； they wane； this is called being unguided。 The unguided die early。
56
Those who know do not say； those who say do not know。
Close the senses； shut the doors； blunt the sharpness； resolve the complications； harmonize the light； assimilate to the world。 This is called the mysterious sameness。
It cannot be made familiar； yet cannot be estranged； it cannot be profited； yet cannot be harmed； it cannot be valued； yet cannot be demeaned。 Therefore it is precious for the world。
57
Use straightforwardness for civil government； use surprise for military operations； use noninvolvement to take the world。 How do I know this？
The more taboos there are in the world； the poorer the populace is；
The more crafts the people have； the more exotic things are produced； the more laws are promulgated； the greater the number of thieves。
Therefore the sage says； I contrive nothing； and the people are naturally civilized； I am fond of tranquility； and the people are naturally upright。
I have nothing to do； and the people are naturally enriched。； I have no desire； and the people are naturally simple。
58
When the government is unobtrusive； the people are pure。 When the government is invasive； the people are wanting。
Calamity is what fortune depends upon； fortune is what calamity subdues。
Who knows how it will all end？ Is there no right and wrong？ The