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These are the people who endure。
45
He who sees that his highest attainments are always incomplete may go on working indefinitely。
He who sees his greatest possessions to be inadequate may go on acquiring forever。
His highest rectitude is but crookedness。
His greatest wisdom is but foolishness。
His sweetest eloquence is but stammering。
Action overcomes cold； inaction overcomes heat。
With virtue and quietness one may conquer the world。
46
When Tao is in the world； horses are used in the pastureland。
When Tao has left the world； chargers are reared in the wilderness。
There is no greater sin than indulging desire。
There is no greater pain than discontent。
There is nothing more disastrous than the greed of gain。
Hence the satisfaction of contentment is an everlasting competence。
47
A man may know the world without leaving his own home。
Through his windows he can see the supreme Tao。
The further afield he goes the less likely is he to find it。
Therefore the wise man knows without travelling； names things without seeing them； and accomplishes everything without action。
48
Bodily and mental distress is increased every day in the effort to get knowledge。
But this distress is daily diminished by the getting of Tao。
Do you continually curtail your effort till there be nothing left of it？
By non…action there is nothing which cannot be effected。
A man might； without the least distress； undertake the government of the world。
But those who distress themselves about governing the world are not fit for it。
49
The wise man has no fixed opinions to call his own。
He accommodates himself to the minds of others。
I would return good for good； I would also return evil for evil。
Virtue is good。
I would meet trust with trust； I would likewise meet suspicion with confidence。
Virtue is trustful。
The wise man lives in the world with modest restraint； and his heart goes out in sympathy to all men。
THe people give him their confidence； and he regards them all as his children。
50
Men go forth from Life and enter into Death。
The Gates of Life are thirteen in number； and the same are the Gates of Death。
By as many ways does life pass quickly into Death。 And wherefore？
Because men strive only after the Sensuous Life。
It has been said that one who knows how to safeguard Life can go through the country without protection against the rhinoceros and tiger。
He may enter into battle without fear of the sword。
The rhinoceros finds no place wherein to drive his horn。
The tiger finds no place wherein to fix his claws。
The sword finds no place wherein to thrust itself。
Why is this？
It is because he has overcome Death。
51
Tao brings forth and Teh nourishes。
All things take up their several forms； and natural forces bring them to perfection。
Therefore all things conspire to exalt Tao and to cherish virtue。
But this regard of Tao and Teh is not in deference to any mandate。
It is unconstrained； and therefore it endures forever。
For Tao produces all things； and Teh nourishes； increases； feeds； matures； protects； and watches over them。
To produce without possessing； to work without expecting； top enlarge without usurping； this is the absolute virtue！
52
That from which the universe sprang may be looked upon as its Mother。
By knowing the Mother you have access to the child。
And if； knowing the child； you prefer the Mother； though your body perish； yet you will come to no harm。
Keep your mouth shut； and close up the doors of sight and sound； and as long as you live you will have no vexation。
But open your mouth； or become inquisitive； and you will be in trouble all your life long。
To perceive things in the germ is intelligence。
To remain gentle is to be invincible。
Follow the light that guides you homeward； and do not get lost in the darkness。
This I call using the eternal。
53
Ah that I were wise enough to follow the great Tao！
Administration is a great undertaking。
The great Tao is extremely simple； but the people prefer the complex ways。
While the palace is extremely well appointed； the fields may be full of tares； and the granaries may be empty。
To dress grandly； to carry sharp swords； to eat and drink excessively； and to amass great wealth； this I call stylish theft。
That it is not Tao is certain。
54
He who plants rightly never uproots。
He who lays hold rightly never relinquishes。
His posterity will honour him continually。
Whoever develops the Tao in himself will be rooted in virtue。
Whoever develops the Tao in his family will cause his virtue to spread。
Whoever develops the Tao in his village will increase prosperity。
Whoever develops the Tao in the kingdom will make good fortune prevail。
Whoever develops Tao in the world will make virtue universal。
I observe myself； and so I come to know others。
I observe my family； and all others grow familiar。
I study this world； and others come within my knowledge。
How else should I come to know the laws which govern all things； save thus； that I observe them in myself？
55
The man who is saturated with Virtue is like a little child。
Scorpions will not sting him； wild beasts will not seize him； nor will birds of prey pluck at him。
His young bones are not hard； neither are his sinews strong； yet his grasp is firm and sure。
He is full of vitality； though unconscious of his sex。
Though he should cry out all day； yet he is never hoarse。
Herein is shown his harmony with Nature。
The knowledge of this harmony is the eternal Tao。
The knowledge of the eternal Tao is illumination。
Habits of excess grow upon a man； and the mind； giving way to the passions； they increase day by day。
And when the passions have reached their climax； they fall。
This is against the nature of Tao。
And what is contrary to Tao soon comes to an end。
56
He who knows the Tao does not discuss it； and those who babble about it do not know it。
To keep the lips closed； to shut the doors of sight and sound； to smooth off the corners； to temper the glare； and to be on a level with the dust of the earth； this is the mysterious virtue。
Whoever observes this will regard alike both frankness and reserve； kindness and injury； honour and degradation。
For this reason he will be held in great esteem of all men。
57
The righteous man may rule the nation。
The strategic man may rule the army。
But the man who refrains from active measures should be the king。
How do I know this：…
When the actions of the people are controlled by prohibited laws； the country becomes more and more impoverished。
When the people are allowed the free use of arms； the Government is in danger。
The more crafty and dexterous the people become； the more do artificial things come into use。
And when those cunning arts