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I do not know its Name。 Its character is 'Tao'。
Powerful and Great； its Greatness spreads；
spreads into the distance； and from the distance； returns。
Hence Tao is great。 Heaven is great。 Earth is great。 The King also is
great。
The Middle Kingdom has four greats； and the King is one。
Man follows the ways of the Earth。
Earth follows the way of Heaven。
Heaven follows the way of Tao。
And Tao follows its own ways。
26
Heavy is the root of light。
Stillness is the master of impatience。
Thus the wise man travels all day； but does not leave his wagon。
Although there are glorious sights； he is relaxed and proper。
Why should the Lord of 10；000 chariots
conduct himself lightly under Heaven ？
Lightness leads to loss of roots。
Impatience leads to loss of control。
27
A good journey leaves no tracks。
A good speech has no mistakes。
Good counting uses no tally sticks。
Good closure requires no latch bolt； yet does not open。
Good joints need no rope； yet do not loosen。
Thus does the wise man help others； not forsake them；
improve things； not neglect them。
Thus is understanding passed on。
The better man is the lesser man's teacher。
The lesser man is the better man's occupation。
One who does not esteem his teacher；
one who does not cherish his profession；
though wise； will be greatly confused。
This is an important secret。
28
Know the Masculine but hold to the Feminine； and be a Valley under Heaven。
To be a Valley under Heaven； never stray from Virtue； revert to a new…born
babe。
Know the White； but hold to the Black； and be a Model under Heaven。
To be a Model under Heaven； do not be extreme； return to moderation。
Know Honor but keep Humble； and be a Valley under Heaven。
To be a Valley under Heaven； let Virtue be sufficient。
Return to Simplicity； gain a reputation for Simplicity。
The does the wise man become a Statesman； and perpetuate a Great System。
29
This desire to conquer the World and rule it； in my opinion； is futile。
The World is a spiritual entity； not able to be governed。
He who tries； fails。 Even the most persistent do not succeed。
For some lead； and some follow。
Some sigh； and some bellow。
Some are strong； and some are weak。
Some rise； and some fall。
Thus does the wise man avoid extremes； avoid extravagance； avoid excess。
30
One who assists his Master with the Way；
will not foster war upon the World。
Such matters easily recoil。
Where Armies go； thorny brambles grow。
Bad years follow great armies。
The Good succeed and stop； not daring to hold by force。
Succeed； but do not gloat。
Succeed； but do not boast。
Succeed； but do not humiliate。
If you succeed and cannot stop； seek Victory without force。
Strength will wane。
This is not the Way； and what is not the Way will soon end。
31
Now； a great army is not a measure of good fortune；
but rather a hateful thing； which a Taoist avoids。
It serves its Master only as an expensive aid。
Employ War only as a costly assistant。
War is not a measure of good fortune。
It is neither a measure of a Monarch's status； nor something he need employ。
Calm and mild is better。
Victory is not to be glorified； and whoever praises it is happy killing
people。
Alas； one who is happy killing people will not be remembered by the World。
Good Luck favors the left。
Bad Luck favors the right。
Stubbornly advancing troops serve the left。
Quickly advancing troops serve the right。
Speak of it as a sad ritual。
The slaughter of so many is a tragic sorrow。
Victory in battle is a sad ritual。
32
Tao has always been nameless；
an Uncarved Block； simple and small； but subject to none under Heaven。
All things will obey the Monarch who defends it。
Heaven uniting with Earth； as sweet dew falling。
People not commanded； but true to themselves。
First there were names； then more names。
It is time to stop。
Knowing when to stop avoids exhaustion。
Tao flows from Heaven； as Rivers flow into the Sea。
33
He who knows others is smart。
He who knows himself is wise。
He who triumphs over others has Power。
He who triumphs over himself has Strength。
He who has enough is Rich。
He who prevails has Will。
He who avoids Loss will survive。
He who dies knowing this； is blessed。
34
Great Tao is everywhere； to the left and to the right。
All things depend on it for life； and are not denied。
Nameless； it does its work。
It feeds and clothes all things； but is not their Master。
It has no desires； so its Name is little known。
All things return to it； but it is not their Master；
therefore its Name is Great。
All it does is not for its own Greatness。
Thus does it achieve Greatness。
35
Remember this pervasive image；
Falling from Heaven； falling unharmed； is the Great Peace。
Pleasure and Enticements tempt the passing visitor。
seems empty； mild； and without flavor。
Look； and there is nothing to see。
Listen； and there is nothing to hear。
Apply it； and there is no end。
36
What is to be closed； must first be opened。
What is to be weak； must first be strong。
What is to be poor； must first be rich。
What is to be taken； must first be given。
This is a subtle point。
The soft and weak overcome the hard and strong。
Fish cannot leave the deep。
The nation's wealth cannot enlighten men。
37
Tao does nothing； and there is nothing it does not do。
If a Monarch can uphold it； all things will reform naturally。
As they reform； and desires arose；
I would calm them with Nameless Simplicity；
for Nameless Simplicity lessens desire。
Not desiring promotes Peace beneath Heaven；
and things beneath Heaven will stabilize。
38
High Virtue is not Virtuous； and therefore has virtue。
Low Virtue is Virtuous； and thus lacks virtue。
High Virtue does not act； and governs by inaction。
Low Virtue acts； and governs by action。
Great Charity acts； but governs by inaction。
Great Justice acts； and governs by action。
Great Ritual takes action and gets no response；
then grabs you by the arm and expels you。
So； we lose the Way and turn to Virtue；
lack Virtue and look for Charity；
receive no Charity and seek Justice；
get no Justice and turn to Ritual。
Alas； Ritual is the shadow of true faith； and a source of confusion。
Divination is the flower of Tao； but the beginning of foolishness。
There do the Elders place their confidence； not with Ritual；
with the practical； not the imagined。
Therefore reject the latter； embrace the former。
39
Previously； things must have been as One。
Heaven must have been One to