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Without doubt he shall go back to his Home in peace。
23
Moderate your speech； and preserve yourself。
A hurricane will not outlast the morning； a heavy rain will not outlast the day。
Who have the power to make these things but Heaven and Earth？
And if Heaven and Earth cannot continue them long； how shall a man do so？
If a man accords with Tao in all things； he is identified with Tao by that agreement。
A virtuous man is identified with virtue； a vicious man is identified with vice。
Whoever is identified with Tao； him do the Taoists receive with gladness。
Whoever is identified with virtue； him do the virtuous receive with gladness。
But whoever is identified with vice； him do the vicious gladly serve with vice。
For wherever confidence is lacking； it is not met with trust。
24
By standing on tiptoe one cannot keep still。
Astride of one's fellow one cannot progress。
By displaying oneself one does not shine。
By self…approbation one is not esteemed。
In self…praise there is no merit。
He who exalts himself does not stand high。
Such things are to Tao what refuse and excreta are to the body。
They are everywhere detested。
Therefore the man of Tao will not abide with them。
25
Before Heaven and Earth existed there was in Nature a primordial substance。
It was serene； it was fathomless。
It was self…existent； it was homogeneous。
It was omnipresent； nor suffered any limitation。
It is to be regarded as the universal mother。
I do not know its name； but I call it Tao。
If forced to qualify it； I call it the boundless。
Being boundless； I call it the inconceivable。
Being inscrutable； I call it the inaccessible。
Being inaccessible； I call it the omnipresent。
Tao is supreme； Heaven is supreme； Earth is supreme； the King is supreme。
There are in the universe four kinds of supremacy； and their rulership is one。
Man is ruled by the Earth； the Earth is ruled by Heaven； Heaven is ruled by Tao； and Tao is ruled by itself。
26
Weight underlies lightness； quiescence underlies motion。
Therefore the Sage never loses his gravity and quiescence from day to day。
Though glorious palaces should belong to him； he would dwell in them peacefully； without attachment。
Alas that a king with many chariots should conduct himself with frivolity in the midst of his kingdom！
By levity he loses his ministers； and by inconstancy his throne。
27
A good walker makes no dust after him。
The good speaker incurs no discussion。
The good reckoner needs no arithmetic。
The good keeper needs no bolts or bars； and none can open after him。
The wise man is constant and a good helper of his fellows。 He rejects none。
He is a continual good preserver of things。 He disdains nothing。
His intelligence is all…embracing。
Good men instruct one another； and bad men are the material they delve in。
Whoever； therefore； does not honour his teacher and cherish his material； though he be called wise； is yet in a state of delusion。
This is no less important than strange。
28
He who； being a man； remains a woman； will become an universal channel。
As an universal channel the eternal virtue will never forsake him。 He will re…become a child。
He who； being in the light； remains in obscurity； will become an universal model。
As an universal model the eternal virtue will not pass him by。 He will go back to the all…perfect。
He who； being glorious； continues in humility； will become an universal valley。
As an universal valley the eternal virtue will fill him。 He will revert to the first essence。
This first essence is that which； being differentiated； gives rise to innumerable vessels of life。
A wise man； by embracing it； becomes the wisest of governors。
A liberal government is that which neither disregards not hurts anyone。
29
When a man who wishes to reform the world takes it in hand； I perceive that there will be no end to it！
Spiritual vessels are not fashioned in the world。
Whoever makes destroys； whoever grasps loses。
For perforce if one advances another is left behind； if one blows hot another will blow cold； if one be strengthened another will be weakened； is one be supported another will be undermined。
Therefore the Sage gives up all enthusiasm； levity； and pomp。
30
The man who aids the King by use of Tao forces the people into submission without resort to the use of arms。 He will not regard the fruit of his actions。
Prickly briars and thorns flourish where battalions have quartered。
Bad years follow on the heels of armies in motion。
The good soldier is brave when occasion requires； but he does not risk himself for power。
Brave is he when occasion requires； but he does not oppress。
Brave is he when occasion requires； but he does not boast。
Brave is he when occasion requires； but he is not mean。
Brave is he when occasion requires； but he does not rage。
Things become old through excess of vigour。 This is called Non…Tao； and what is Non…Tao is soon wasted！
31
Weapons； however ornamental； are not a source of happiness； but are dreaded by all。
Therefore the man of Tao will not abide where such things are。
A respectable man at home sets the place of honour at his left hand； but the warrior on going forth to battle gives honour to the right hand。 For weapons are things of ill omen； and the man of enlightenment does not use them except when he cannot help it。
His great desire is peace； and he does not take joy in conquest。
To joy in conquest is to joy in the loss of human life。
He who joys in bloodshed is not fit to govern the country。
When affairs are prosperous the left side is preferred； but when things are adverse the right is esteemed。
The adjutant…general is therefore on the left side； while the general…in…chief is on the right。
This I perceive is the manner also observed at a funeral！
He who has occasion to kill many people has cause for deep sorrow and tears。
Therefore a victorious army observes the order of a funeral。
32
Tao the absolute has no name。
But although insignificant in its original simplicity； the world does not presume to bemean it。
If a king could lay hold on it； the world would of itself submit to him。
Heaven and Earth would conspire to nourish him。
The peopole without pressure would peacefully fall into their own places。
If he should dispose them by titles and names； he would be making a name for himself。
Yet he would wisely stop short of the name； and thus avoid the evil of distinctions。
Tao is to the world what the streams and valleys are to the great rivers and seas。
33
He is wise who knows others。
He who knows himself is enlightened。
He is strong who conquers others。
He who conquers himself is mighty。
He is rich who is well satisfied。
He walks fast who has an object。
He who fills his place remains secure。
He who dies without