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40
Reversion is the movement of Tao；
Weakness is the function of Tao。
All things under Heaven come into being from （visible） concrete beings；
An all beings come into being from invisible nonexistence （Tao）。
41
When the highest shi hear Tao； they diligently practice it。
When the average shi hear Tao； they half believe it。
When the lowest shi hear Tao； （thinking it empty） they laugh greatly at it。
If they didn't laugh； it would be contrary to Tao。
Therefore there are some old sayings：
〃The Tao that is bright seems to be dark；
The Tao that goes forward seems to retreat；
The Tao that is level seems to be uneven；
The lofty De （Virtue） looks like a humble valley；
The greatest glory looks like disgrace；
The greatest De looks insufficient；
The vigorous De looks inert；
The simple purity looks changeable；
The great square has no corners；
The valuable vessel is always completed lastly；
The greatest sound sounds faint；
The greatest form looks formless。〃
Tao is hidden and nameless；
It is only Tao that initiates all beings and brings them to completion。
42
Tao gives birth to the unified thing （One）；
The One splits itself into two opposite aspects （Two）；
The Two gives birth to another （Three）；
The newborn Third produces a myriad of things。
The myriad of things contain the Yin and Yang within themselves as opposite forces；
Both of them （Yin and Yang） are unified with harmony in the invisible breath。
People disdain the 〃orphaned；〃 〃solitary〃 or 〃unworthy；〃
And yet they are the very names by which kings and dukes call themselves。
Therefore all things may increase when purposely diminished；
And they may diminish when increased。
What people teach each other； I also teach：
〃The violent and strong does not die his natural death；〃
I will make that fact the beginning of my teaching。
43
The softest thing under Heaven is able to run in and out of the hardest。
The invisible force is able to penetrate that in which there is no crevice。
Thereby I come to know the advantage of doing nothing。
The instructiveness of not speaking and the benefits of nonaction are incomparable under Heaven。
44
Which is more dear to me； credit or life？
Which is more valuable； life or wealth？
Which is more harmful； gain or loss？
Therefore the excessive stint must cause enormous expenses；
The rich hoard must suffer a serious loss。
Whoever is contented will meet no disgrace；
Whoever knows when and where to stop will meet no danger；
And he is able to endure long without worry。
45
What is most perfect seems to be incomplete；
But its utility cannot be impaired。
What is most full seems to be empty；
But its utility cannot be exhausted。
The most straight seems to be crooked；
The greatest skill seems to be clumsy；
The greatest eloquence seems to stammer。
Rapid walking overcomes cold；
Being quiet overcomes heat。
By remaining quiet and tranquil； one will be the chief under Heaven。
46
When state politics are on the right track； war horses are used in farming。
When state politics are off track； even mares with foal have to be used in battle。
There is no calamity greater than discontentment。
There is no guilt greater than covetousness。
Therefore the contentment with knowing contentment is always contented。
47
Without going out of the door； one can now things under Heaven。
Without looking through the window； one can see the Way （Tao） of Heaven。
The farther one goes； the less one knows。
Therefore the sage knows without going through；
Understands without seeing；
And accomplishes without doing anything。
48
The pursuit of learning is to increase （knowledge） day after day。
The pursuit of Tao is to decrease （knowledge） day after day。
Decreasing and decreasing again； till one has reached nonaction （wu…wei）。
Nonaction and yet there is nothing that is not done by it。
To govern all under Heaven one usually should not take any arbitrary action。
If one tends to do anything arbitrarily；
One is not qualified to govern all under Heaven。
49
The sage has no fixed personal will；
He regards the people's will as his own。
I take the people's will； if it is good； as good。
I take the people's will； if it is not good； as good too。
Thus goodness is attained。
I believe the people's will； if it is believable。
I also believe the people's will； even if it is unbelievable。
Thus faith is attained。
The sage dwells under Heaven； harmoniously keeping all the people under Heaven in confusion；
（While all the people concentrate upon their own eyes and ears）；
Thus the sage treats them all as ignorant infants without desires。
50
When one is born； he will eventually naturally meet his death。
Three out of every ten people will enjoy long life；
While three out of every ten people will meet premature death。
Chances that one strives to live and will die are also three out of ten。
And for what reason？
Because that one intensively craves life （and contrarily he fails to attain his objective）。
I heard that one who is good at preserving his life is not afraid of meeting tigers or rhinoceroses when traveling on the land； and he will not be injured of killed in fighting battles。
（To those who are good at preserving their lives）
The rhinoceros cannot butt its horns against him；
The tiger cannot fasten its claws in him；
And weapons cannot thrust their blades into him。
For what reason are all these？
Because he is out of the range of death。
51
Tao begets all beings；
And De fosters them。
The physical gives them forms；
And the vessels mark them accomplished。
Therefore all beings without exception venerate Tao and value De。
The veneration of Tao and valuing De； is not out of obedience to any orders； but is always like this。
Therefore Tao begets all beings；
And De fosters them； grows and raises them； makes them fruitful and mature； breeds them and protects them。
To give birth to them without taking possession of them；
To put them in motion without vaunting this as its merits；
And to be their sovereign without controlling them；
… These are called the profound De。
52
All the things in the world have their origin in something； which is their foundation （mother）。
Having grasped the Mother as the foundation of all things； one can know her children as all things。
Having grasped the children as the thing； one must hold to the Mother as the foundation of all things。
Thus one will never encounter danger all his life。
Blocking the vent （of knowledge） and closing the door （of knowledge） can keep one from sickness all his life。
Opening the vent （of knowledge） and completing the enterprise （of knowledge） will make one helpless all his life。
So； perceiving the minute is