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Employ reticence； and care with words。
When the work is done and the task complete
The people will say： 慖t just happened。？br》
18
When the great Way is lost
There is 慴enevolence and rectitude？
When cleverness appears
There is 慻reat ritual？
When the family is not harmonious；
There is 慺ilial piety？
When the state is in chaos
There are 憀oyal？ministers。
19
Eliminate the 憇age？ forget 憌isdom？br》 People will be a hundred times better off。
Eliminate 慴enevolence？ forget 憆ectitude？
And people will have filial piety。
Eliminate cleverness： forget profit；
And there抣l be less thieves and rogues。
Superficial things are insufficient；
What is needed is all…embracing。
Exhibit the unadorned。
Hold fast to the un…carved block。
Avoid the thought of Self。
Eliminate desire。
20
Eliminate learning： and there抯 no worry。
Between 憏es？and 憂o？ what抯 the difference？
What separates 慻ood？and 慴ad？
But one must respect what others respect。
The people are happy
As if at a marvellous feast；
Or going on a spring outing；
Only I am unmoved and silent；
Abandoned to disorder without limit。
Like a baby that抯 not yet smiled；
Aimless； like one of the homeless。
The people have all they want；
It抯 only me that抯 in need；
My mind抯 ignorant ？so dull！
Yet the crowd are clear…minded；
It抯 only me that抯 muddled。
Yet the crowd are all…knowing；
Only from me it抯 hidden。
Levelled flat like the ocean；
Like an endless wind blowing。
Everyone has a purpose。
It抯 only me that抯 raw and foolish。
I抦 different from the others。
I like being fed by the Mother！
21
Great virtue follows the Way
And the Way alone。
How shadowy； how indistinct！
Within it is the form。
How shadowy； how indistinct！
Within it is the 憈hing？
How dim； how dark！
Within it is the substance。
The substance is perfectly real；
Within； it can be tested。
From present to ancient times
Its name was never lost。
So we can investigate the origins of all。
How do I know the origins of all are that？
By means of this。
22
Bowed down and so preserved。
Bent and then straightened。
Hollowed out then filled。
Worn away then renewed。
From the few achievement
From the many confusion。
So the wise grasp the One
And become a pattern for all。
Not shown； therefore apparent；
Not asserted； therefore known；
Not boasted of； therefore of worth；
Not contentious； so enduring。
It抯 because the wise do not contend；
That no one can contend with them。
When the ancients said：
態owed down and so preserved？br》 That was no empty saying。
It allows one to be preserved
To the end。
23
To speak infrequently
Is natural。
So a strong wind won抰 last all morning；
A downpour won抰 last all day。
What causes these？ Heaven and earth。
If even heaven and earth must rest；
How much more so human beings？
Therefore align yourself to the Way。
Aligned with the Way you are one with the Way。
Aligned with virtue you are one with virtue。
Aligned with the heavens you are one with the heavens。
The Way accepts this alignment gladly。
Virtue accepts this alignment gladly。
The heavens accept this alignment gladly。
When there is lack of faith
There is a lack of respect。
24
On tiptoes you can抰 stand。
Straddled you can抰 walk。
Shown； therefore not apparent；
Asserted； therefore not known；
Boasted of； therefore not of worth；
Contentious； so not enduring。
The Way calls these
慐xcess food and useless waste？br》 As things dislike them；
Those of the Way do not employ them。
25
There is something formed of chaos；
Born before heaven and earth。
Silent and void； it is not renewed；
It goes on forever without failing
It can be seen as the World…Mother。
I don抰 know its name。
So I have to call it the Way。
I have to label it as 憈he great？
Being great implies a distancing
Distancing implies being far…off；
Being far…off implies returning。
So the Way is great： heaven is great：
Earth is great： the ruler is great。
Within the realm four things are great；
And the ruler is one。
The ruler reflects the earth
Earth reflects the heavens
The heavens reflect the Way
The Way reflects what is。
26
Heaviness is the root of lightness：
The still is ruler of the turbulent。
So the nobleman travels all day
Without losing sight of the heavy wagons。
When he抯 secure behind walls and towers；
Then he抯 at rest and without trouble。
How can a ruler of ten thousand chariots；
Treat the people lightly in his thoughts？
In lightness the root is lost：
In turbulence the ruler is lost。
27
Expert travelling leaves no track：
Expert speaking is free of faults。
Expert counting uses no beads。
Expert closing stays shut without locks。
Expert tying is firm without knots。
So the wise are expert in utilising people
And discarding no one；
Expert in utilising things
And discarding nothing。
This is called the application of knowledge。
So the wise are teachers the ignorant learn from；
And the ignorant are material for the wise。
Not to value the teacher；
Not to love the material；
Though it seems clever
Reveals confusion。
This is called the essential secret。
28
Know the masculine
But keep to the feminine；
And be a valley to the realm。
If you are a valley to the realm
Then constant virtue won抰 leave you；
And you will return to infancy。
Know the bright
But keep to the shadows；
And be a pattern for the realm。
If you are a pattern for the realm
Then constant virtue will not be lacking
And you will return to the unlimited。
Know the glorious
But keep to the humble
And be a valley to the realm。
If you are a valley to the realm
Then constant virtue will be complete
And you will return to the un…carved block。
The un…carved block is cut into 憊essels？
Wise men use them； as rulers of 憊essels？
The great cutter
Does not cut away。
29
Whoever takes hold of the realm
And wants to manipulate it
Will have no peace。
The realm is a sacred vessel
That should not be interfered with。
Whoever touches it will spoil it。
Whoever grasps it will lose it。
Some lead and some follow；
Some breathe easily； some breathe hard；
Some are strong and some are weak；
Some destroy： some are destroyed。
So the wise avoid excess；
Avoid the pompous； and the arrogant。
30
Ruling the people by means of the Way
Does not involve awing the realm with force。
That抯 likely to come full circle。
Where the general camped
There the brambles grow。
In the wak