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That抯 likely to come full circle。
Where the general camped
There the brambles grow。
In the wake of a great army
Bad harvests inevitably follow。
The good man aims at ending war；
And doing so fears to intimidate。
Achieve the aim but don抰 boast。
Achieve the aim without display。
Achieve the aim without arrogance。
Achieve the aim but don抰 assert it。
Achieve the aim but don抰 intimidate。
The creature that ignores what exists from of old
Is described as going against the Way。
What goes against the Way
Will come to a swift end。
31
Since weapons are instruments of evil；
And people detest them；
A wise man can抰 stand their use。
A gentleman； in his house；
Makes the left the place of honour。
In military matters
The right is the place of honour。
Since weapons are instruments of evil；
They are not the instruments of the gentleman。
When he is forced to use them
He does so without savouring it。
Victory is not glorious；
Those for whom it is glorious
Delight in killing human beings。
Those who delight in killing human beings
Will never control the realm。
The left takes precedence on joyous occasions。
The right takes precedence on sad occasions。
A lieutenant抯 place is on the left。
A general抯 place is on the right。
Mourning rites are observed。
When there are mounds of dead
One should weep with sorrow。
When one is victorious
Observe the mourning rites。
32
The Way has no name。
The un…carved block is small
But no one dares to claim it。
If the rulers could accept this
The myriad creatures would submit of themselves；
Heaven and earth would unite
And the sweet dew would fall。
The people could be dealt with
Without the making of laws。
When it is carved there are names。
When there are names it is time to stop。
Knowing when to stop
Keeps one from danger。
The world抯 relation to the Way
Is like rills and streams
To the River and Sea。
33
One who understands others is clever。
One who understands the 憇elf？is enlightened。
One who conquers others is forceful。
One who conquers the 憇elf？is strong。
One who can be content is rich。
One who can act with purpose has will。
One who doesn抰 lose place endures。
One who dies without loss has lived a life。
34
The Way is broad like a river。
How can it be deflected to left or right？
The myriad creatures depend on it for life
Yet it imposes no authority。
It does its work but claims no merit。
It feeds and clothes the people
Without claiming to rule them。
Free of desires it can be called 憇mall？
Yet as the myriad creatures turn to it；
And it does not claim to rule them；
It can be called 慻reat？
Because it never regards itself as great
It is capable of being great。
35
Hold on to the great Image
And people will travel along。
Travelling along without harm
They will exist in peace。
Music and food tempt
The passer…by to stop。
The Way passes into the mouth
Without any flavour。
Look and it cannot be seen。
Listen； it cannot be heard。
Yet it cannot be exhausted。
36
In order to shrink it
It has to be stretched。
In order to weaken it
It has to be strong。
In order to raze it
You have to build it。
In order to take from it
You have to give to it。
This is called subtle understanding。
The soft and gentle conquers
The hard and violent。
The fish should not abandon the depths。
The state抯 rewards and punishments
Should not be open to everyone。
37
The Way is always inaction；
But nothing is left undone。
If the rulers could realise it
The people would be themselves transformed。
If； being transformed； they show desire
I restrain it by means of the un…carved block。
The nameless un…carved block
Is freedom from desire。
Without desire they are calm；
And the realm is of itself at peace。
38
The highest virtue doesn抰 practise virtue
That抯 why it is virtuous。
The lowest virtue is always 憊irtuous？br》 That抯 why it has no virtue。
The highest virtue is inaction
But nothing is left undone。
The lowest virtue is action
But things are always left undone。
Benevolence is acting
But without ulterior motives。
Rectitude is acting
But with ulterior motives。
Those steeped in the rites act；
And when no one responds；
They roll up their sleeves
And resort to threats。
So when the Way was lost
There was 憊irtue？
When virtue was lost
There was benevolence。
When benevolence was lost
There was rectitude。
When rectitude was lost
There were the rites。
The rites are only the semblance
Of loyalty and sincerity；
And a source of disorder。
The seer is a flowery decoration
Obscuring the Way；
And a source of foolishness。
So the wise live in the substance
And not in the semblance。
In the fruit
And not in the flower。
They take the one； and leave the other。
39
Of old these possess Oneness：
Heaven because of the One is clear。
Earth because of the One is firm。
Powers because of the One have force。
Valleys because of the One are filled。
People because of the One subsist。
Rulers because of the One can govern。
The One creates these effects。
If heaven was not clear it might shatter。
If earth was not firm it might subside。
If powers had no force they might be exhausted。
If the valley was not filled it might run dry。
If people lacked subsistence they might perish。
If rulers could not govern they might fall。
So the superior has the inferior as root。
The higher has the lower at its base。
So rulers call themselves 慳bandoned； humble； and unfortunate？
Is this not taking the inferior as root？
So the highest effect is not a burden；
Neither desiring to be rare like jade；
Nor solitary like a rock。
40
Returning is how the Way progresses。
Weakness is how it performs its function。
The myriad creatures arise from Something；
And Something arises from Nothing。
41
When the best students hear of the Way
They try zealously to put it into practice。
When average students hear of the Way
It抯 sometimes here and sometimes gone。
When the worst students hear of the Way
They burst out laughing。
Not laughing would make it
Unworthy to be called the Way。
So the ancient text says：
The way that is bright seems dull。
The way forward seems to lead back。
The smooth way seems rough。
The highest virtue seems a valley。
The purest whiteness seems stained。
Excessive virtue seems defective。
Solid virtue seems inactive。
Simplicity appears sullied。
The great square has no corners。
The great vessel take