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That he is therefore able to realize his self…interest？
8
The highest good is like water；
Water is good at benefiting the ten thousand things and yet it ＇does not＇ compete ＇with them＇。
It dwells in places the masses of people detest；
Therefore it is close to the Way。
In dwelling； the good thing is the land；
In the mind； the good thing is depth；
In giving； the good thing is ＇being like＇ Heaven；
In speaking； the good thing is sincerity；
In governing； the good thing is order；
In affairs； the good thing is ability；
In activity； the good thing is timeliness。
It is only because it does not compete； that therefore it is without fault。
9
To hold it upright and fill it；
Is not so good as stopping ＇in time＇。
When you pound it out and give it a point；
It won't be preserved very long。
When gold and jade fill your rooms；
You'll never be able to protect them。
Arrogance and pride with wealth and rank；
On their own bring on disaster。
When the deed is accomplished you retire；
Such is Heaven's Way！
10
In nourishing the soul and embracing the One梒an you do it without letting them leave？
In concentrating your breath and making it soft梒an you ＇make it like that of＇ a child？
In cultivating and cleaning your profound mirror梒an you do it so that it has no blemish？
In loving the people and giving life to the state梒an you do it without using knowledge？
In opening and closing the gates of Heaven梒an you play the part of the female？
In understanding all within the four reaches梒an you do it without using knowledge？
Give birth to them and nourish them。
Give birth to them but don't try to own them；
Help them to grow but don't rule them。
This is called Profound Virtue。
11
Thirty spokes unite in one hub；
It is precisely where there is nothing； that we find the usefulness of the wheel。
We fire clay and make vessels；
It is precisely where there's no substance； that we find the usefulness of clay pots。
We chisel out doors and windows；
It is precisely in these empty spaces； that we find the usefulness of the room。
Therefore； we regard having something as beneficial；
But having nothing as useful。
12
The five colors cause one's eyes to go blind。
Racing horses and hunting cause one's mind to go mad。
Goods that are hard to obtain pose an obstacle to one's travels。
The five flavors confuse one's palate。
The five tones cause one's ears to go deaf。
Therefore； in the government of the Sage：
He's for the belly and not for the eyes。
Thus he rejects that and take this。
13
〃Regard favor and disgrace with alarm。〃
〃Respect great distress as you do your own person。〃
What do I mean I say 〃Regard favor and disgrace with alarm〃？
Favor is inferior。
If you get it梑e alarmed！
If you lose it梑e alarmed！
This is what I mean when I say 〃Regard favor and disgrace with alarm。〃
What do I mean when I say 〃Respect great distress as you do your won person〃？
The reason why I have distress
Is that I have a body。
If I had no body； what distress would I have？
Therefore； to one who values acting for himself over acting on behalf of the world；
You can entrust the world。
And to one who in being parsimonious regards his person as equal to the world；
You can turn over the world。
14
We look at it but do not see it；
We name this 〃the minute。〃
We listen to it but do not hear it；
We name this 〃the rarefied。〃
We touch it but do not hold it；
We name this 〃the level and smooth。〃
These three cannot be examined to the limit。
Thus they merge together as one。
〃One〃梩here is nothing more encompassing above it；
And nothing smaller below it。
Boundless； formless！ It cannot be named；
And returns to the state of no…thing。
This is called the formless form；
The substanceless image。
This is called the subtle and indistinct。
Follow it and you won't see its back；
Greet it and you won't see its head。
Hold on to the Way of the present？br》 To manage the things of the present；
And to know the ancient beginning。
This is called the beginning of the thread of the Way。
15
The one who was skilled at practicing the Way in antiquity；
Was subtle and profound； mysterious and penetratingly wise。
His depth cannot be known。
It is only because he cannot be known
That therefore were I forced to describe him I'd say：
Hesitant was he！ Like someone crossing a river in winter。
Undecided was he！ As though in fear of his neighbors on all four sides。
Solemn and polite was he！ Like a guest。
Scattered and dispersed was he！ Like an ice as it melts
Genuine； unformed was he！ Like uncarved wood。
Merged； undifferentiated was he！ Like muddy water。
Broad and expansive was he！ Like a valley。
If you take muddy water and still it； it gradually becomes clear。
If you bring something to rest in order to move it； it gradually comes alive。
The one who preserved this Way does not desire to be full；
Therefore he can wear out with no need to be renewed。
16
Take emptiness to the limit；
Maintain tranquility in the center。
The ten thousand things梥ide…by…side they arise；
And by this I see their return。
Things ＇come forth＇ in great numbers；
Each one returns to its root。
This is called tranquility。
〃Tranquility〃桾his means to return to your fate。
To return to your fate is to be constant；
To know the constant is to be wise。
Not to know the constant is to be reckless and wild；
If you're reckless and wild； your actions will lead to misfortune。
To know the constant is to be all…embracing；
To be all…embracing is to be impartial；
To be impartial is to be kingly；
To be kingly is to be ＇like＇ Heaven；
To be ＇like＇ Heaven is to be ＇one with＇ the Dao；
If you're ＇one with＇ the Dao； to the end of your days you'll suffer no harm。
17
With the highest ＇kind of rulers＇； those below simply know they exist。
With those one step down梩hey love and praise them。
With those one further step down梩hey fear them。
And with those at the bottom梩hey ridicule and insult them。
When trust is insufficient； there will be no trust ＇in them＇。
Hesitant； undecided！ Like this is his respect for speaking。
18
Therefore； when the Great Way is rejected； it is then that we have the virtues of humanity and righteousness；
When knowledge and wisdom appear； it is then that there is great hypocrisy；
When the six relations are not in harmony； it is then that we have filial piety and compassion；
And when the country is in chaos and confusion； it is then that there are virtuous officials。
19
Eliminate sageliness； throw away knowledge；
And the people will benefit a hundredfold。
Eliminate humanity； throw away righteousness；
And the people will return