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18
When the great Tao is forgotten；
Kindness and morality arise。
When wisdom and intelligence are born；
The great pretense begins。
When there is no peace within the family；
Filial piety and devotion arise。
When the country is confused and in chaos；
Loyal ministers appear。
19
Give up sainthood； renounce wisdom；
And it will be a hundred times better for everyone。
Give up kindness； renounce morality；
And men will rediscover filial piety and love。
Give up ingenuity； renounce profit；
And bandits and thieves will disappear。
These three are outward forms alone； they are not sufficient in themselves。
It is more important
To see the simplicity；
To realize one's true nature；
To cast off selfishness
And temper desire。
20
Give up learning； and put an end to your troubles。
Is there a difference between yes and no？
Is there a difference between good and evil？
Must I fear what others fear？ What nonsense！
Other people are contented； enjoying the sacrificial feast of the ox。
In spring some go to the park； and climb the terrace；
But I alone am drifting； not knowing where I am。
Like a newborn babe before it learns to smile；
I am alone； without a place to go。
Others have more than they need； but I alone have nothing。
I am a fool。 Oh； yes！ I am confused。
Others are clear and bright；
But I alone am dim and weak。
Others are sharp and clever；
But I alone am dull and stupid。
Oh； I drift like the waves of the sea；
Without direction； like the restless wind。
Everyone else is busy；
But I alone am aimless and depressed。
I am different。
I am nourished by the great mother。
21
The greatest Virtue is to follow Tao and Tao alone。
The Tao is elusive and intangible。
Oh； it is intangible and elusive； and yet within is image。
Oh； it is elusive and intangible； and yet within is form。
Oh； it is dim and dark； and yet within is essence。
This essence is very real； and therein lies faith。
From the very beginning until now its name has never been forgotten。
Thus I perceive the creation。
How do I know the ways of creation？
Because of this。
22
Yield and overcome；
Bend and be straight；
Empty and be full；
Wear out and be new；
Have little and gain；
Have much and be confused。
Therefore the wise embrace the one
And set an example to all。
Not putting on a display；
They shine forth。
Not justifying themselves；
They are distinguished。
Not boasting；
They receive recognition。
Not bragging；
They never falter。
They do not quarrel；
So no one quarrels with them。
Therefore the ancients say； 〃Yield and overcome。〃
Is that an empty saying？
Be really whole；
And all things will come to you。
23
To talk little is natural。
High winds do not last all morning。
Heavy rain does not last all day。
Why is this？ Heaven and Earth！
If heaven and Earth cannot make things eternal；
How is it possible for man？
He who follows the Tao
Is at one with the Tao。
He who is virtuous
Experiences Virtue。
He who loses the way
Is lost。
When you are at one with the Tao；
The Tao welcomes you。
When you are at one with Virtue；
The Virtue is always there。
When you are at one with loss；
The loss is experienced willingly。
He who does not trust enough
Will not be trusted。
24
He who stands on tiptoe is not steady。
He who strides cannot maintain the pace。
He who makes a show is not enlightened。
He who is self…righteous is not respected。
He who boasts achieves nothing。
He who brags will not endure。
According to followers of the Tao； 〃These are extra food and unnecessaryluggage。〃
They do not bring happiness。
therefore followers of the Tao avoid them。
25
Something mysteriously formed；
Born before heaven and Earth。
In the silence and the void；
Standing alone and unchanging；
Ever present and in motion。
Perhaps it is the mother of ten thousand things。
I do not know its name
Call it Tao。
For lack of a better word； I call it great。
Being great； it flows
I flows far away。
Having gone far； it returns。
Therefore； 〃Tao is great；
Heaven is great；
Earth is great；
The king is also great。〃
These are the four great powers of the universe；
And the king is one of them。
Man follows Earth。
Earth follows heaven。
Heaven follows the Tao。
Tao follows what is natural。
26
The heavy is the root of the light。
The still is the master of unrest。
Therefore the sage； traveling all day；
Does not lose sight of his baggage。
Though there are beautiful things to be seen；
He remains unattached and calm。
Why should the lord of ten thousand chariots act lightly in public？
To be light is to lose one's root。
To be restless is to lose one's control。
27
A good walker leaves no tracks；
A good speaker makes no slips；
A good reckoner needs no tally。
A good door needs no lock；
Yet no one can open it。
Good binding requires no knots；
Yet no one can loosen it。
Therefore the sage takes care of all men
And abandons no one。
He takes care of all things
And abandons nothing。
This is called 〃following the light。〃
What is a good man？
A teacher of a bad man。
What is a bad man？
A good man's charge。
If the teacher is not respected；
And the student not cared for；
Confusion will arise； however clever one is。
This is the crux of mystery。
28
Know the strength of man；
But keep a woman's care！
Be the stream of the universe！
Being the stream of the universe；
Ever true and unswerving；
Become as a little child once more。
Know the white；
But keep the black！
Be an example to the world！
Being an example to the world；
Ever true and unwavering；
Return to the infinite。
Know honor；
Yet keep humility。
Be the valley of the universe！
Being the valley of the universe；
Ever true and resourceful；
Return to the state of the uncarved block。
When the block is carved； it becomes useful。
When the sage uses it； he becomes the ruler。
Thus； 〃A great tailor cuts little。〃
29
Do you think you can take over the universe and improve it？
I do not believe it can be done。
The universe is sacred。
You cannot improve it。
If you try to change it； you will ruin it。
If you try to hold it； you will lose it。
So sometimes things are ahead and sometimes they are behind；
Sometimes breathing is hard； sometimes it comes easily；
Sometimes there is strength and sometimes weakness；
Sometimes one is up and sometimes down。
Therefore the sage avoids extremes； excesses； and complacency。
30
Whenever you advise