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Therefore when one loses Tao there is still teh； one may lose teh and benevolence remains； one may forsake benevolence and still hold to righteousness； one may lose righteousness and propriety remains。
Propriety； alone； reduces loyalty and good faith to a shadow； and it is the beginning of disorder。 Tradition is the mere flower of the Tao and had its origin in ignorance。
Therefore the great man of affairs conforms to the spirit and not to external appearance。 He goes on to fruitage and does not rest in the show of blossom。 He avoids mere propriety and practices true benevolence。
39
THE ROOT OF AUTHORITY
It has been said of old； only those who attain unity attain self…hood。 。 。 。 Heaven attained unity and thereby is space。 Earth attained unity； thereby it is solid。 Spirit attained unity； thereby it became mind。 Valleys attained unity； therefore rivers flow down them。 All things have unity and thereby have life。 Princes and kings as they attain unity become standards of conduct for the nation。 And the highest unity is that which produces unity。
If heaven were not space it might crack； if earth were not solid it might bend。 If spirits were not unified into mind they might vanish； if valleys were not adapted to rivers they would be parched。 Everything if it were not for life would burn up。 Even princes and kings if they overestimate themselves and cease to be standards will presumably fall。
Therefore nobles find their roots among the commoners； the high is always founded upon the low。 The reason why princes and kings speak of themselves as orphans； inferiors and unworthy； is because they recognize that their roots run down to the common life； is it not so？
If a carriage goes to pieces it is no longer a carriage； its unity is gone。 A true self…hood does not desire to be overvalued as a gem； nor to be undervalued as a mere stone。
40
AVOIDING ACTIVITY
Retirement is characteristic of Tao just as weakness appears to be a characteristic of its activity。
Heaven and earth and everything are produced from existence； but existence comes from nonexistence。 。 。 。
41
THE UNREALITY OF APPEARANCE
The superior scholar when he considers Tao earnestly practices it； an average scholar listening to Tao sometimes follows it and sometimes loses it； an inferior scholar listening to Tao ridicules it。 Were it not thus ridiculed it could not be regarded as Tao。
Therefore the writer says： Those who are most illumined by Tao are the most obscure。 Those advanced in Tao are most retiring。 Those best guided by Tao are the least prepossessing。
The high in virtue （teh） resemble a lowly valley； the whitest are most likely to be put to shame； the broadest in virtue resemble the inefficient。 The most firmly established in virtue resemble the remiss。 The simplest chastity resembles the fickle； the greatest square has no corner； the largest vessel is never filled。 The greatest sound is void of speech； the greatest form has no shape。 Tao is obscure and without name； and yet it is precisely this Tao that alone can give and complete。
42
THE TRANSFORMATION OF TAO
Tao produces unity； unity produces duality； duality produces trinity； trinity produces all things。 All things bear the negative principle （yin） and embrace the positive principle （yang）。 Immaterial vitality； the third principle （chi）； makes them harmonious。
Those things which are detested by the common people； namely to be called orphans； inferiors； and unworthies； are the very things kings and lords take for titles。 There are some things which it is a gain to lose； and a loss to gain。
I am teaching the same things which are taught by others。 But the strong and aggressive： ones do not obtain a natural death （i。e。； self…confident teachers do not succeed）。 I alone expound the basis of the doctrine of the Tao。
43
THE FUNCTION OF THE UNIVERSAL
The most tender things of creation race over the hardest。
A non…material existence enters into the most impenetrable。
I therefore recognize an advantage in the doctrine of not doing （wu wei） and not speaking。 But there are few in the world who obtain the advantage of non…assertion （wu wei） and silence。
44
PRECEPTS
Which is nearer； a name or a person？ Which is more； personality or treasure？ Is it more painful to gain or to suffer loss？
Extreme indulgence certainly greatly wastes。 Much hoarding certainly invites severe loss。
A contented person is not despised。 One who knows when to stop is not endangered； he will be able therefore to continue。
45
THE VIRTUE （TEH） OF GREATNESS
Extreme perfection seems imperfect； its function is not exhausted。 Extreme fullness appears empty； its function is not exercised。
Extreme straightness appears crooked； great skill； clumsy； great eloquence； stammering。 Motion conquers cold； quietude conquers heat。 Not greatness but purity and clearness are the world's standard。
46
LIMITATION OF DESIRE
When the world yields to Tao； race horses will be used to haul manure。 When the world ignores Tao war horses are pastured on the public common。
There is no sin greater than desire。 There is no misfortune greater than discontent。 There is no calamity greater than acquisitiveness。
Therefore to know extreme contentment is simply to be content。
47
SEEING THE DISTANT
Not going out of the door I have knowledge of the world。 Not peeping through the window I perceive heaven's Tao。 The more one wanders to a distance the less he knows。
Therefore the wise man does not wander about but he understands； he does not see things but he defines them； he does not labor yet he completes。
48
TO FORGET KNOWLEDGE
He who attends daily to learning increases in learning。 He who practices Tao daily diminishes。 Again and again he humbles himself。 Thus he attains to non…doing （wu wei）。 He practices non…doing and yet there is nothing left undone。
To command the empire one must not employ craft。 If one uses craft he is not fit to command the empire。
49
THE VIRTUE （TEH） OF TRUST
The wise man has no fixed heart； in the hearts of the people he finds his own。 The good he treats with goodness； the not…good he also treats with goodness； for teh is goodness。 The faithful ones he treats with good faith； the unfaithful he also treats with good faith； for teh is good faith。
The wise man lives in the world but he lives cautiously； dealing with the world cautiously。 He universalizes his heart； the people give him their eyes and ears； but he treats them as his children。
50
ESTEEM LIFE
Life is a going forth； death is a returning home。 Of ten； three are seeking life； three are seeking death； and three are dying。 What is the reason？ Because they live in life's experience。 （Only one is immortal。）
I hear it said that the sage when he travels is never attacked by rhinoceros or tiger； and when coming among soldiers does not fear their weapons。 The rhinoceros would find no place to horn him； nor the tiger a place for hi