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8
A good person is like water。
Water benefits all things； and does not compete with them。
It dwells in the lowly places that all disdain； thereby coming closeto Tao。
For a home； the sage prefers the earth。
In thoughts the sage prefers what is simple；
in companions； kindness；
in words； sincerity；
in government； peace；
in business； ability；
in actions； timeliness。
Always preferring what does not lead to strife；
Thus the sage is without reproach。
9
Fill a cup to its fullest； and you will wish you had stopped。
Temper a sword to its sharpest； and the edge will not last。
When gold and jade fill your house； it can no longer be guarded。
To be proud of wealth and honor invites misfortune。
When your work is done； withdraw； this is the way of nature。
10
Can you keep body and soul balanced； so they cannot be split？
By soft breathing and gentleness； can you become like a babe？
Can you polish your mind's mirror； till nothing is blurred？
Can you love all people； and govern without interfering？
Can you tend nature's gates； always as the female？
In comprehending all knowledge； can you renounce the mind？
Producing and nourishing； creating yet not possessing；
working without taking credit； leading without dominating。
This is called Secret power。
11
Thirty spokes are joined at the hub；
but it is the empty center that makes the wheel useful。
Mold clay into a vessel； the space it encloses makes it useful。
Walls make a room； but a doorway and windows make the room useful。
Thus； as we take advantage of what is； we see the usefulness of whatis not。
12
Colors blind the eye。
Tones deafen the ear。
Flavors dull the taste。
Racing and hunting madden the mind。
Precious things rob us of mobility。
So the sage feeds the belly； not the eye；
letting go of That； and accepting This。
13
Both favor and disgrace excite us。
Both gain and loss are within us。
Favor excites us when we get it； and excites us when we lose it。
We gain and lose because we have a self。
If I have no self； what can I lose？
Those who treasure the world as their self； may be entrusted with theworld。
If we see the world as our self； then within our self there is onlythe world。
14
Looked at； it cannot be seen； it is the Invisible。
Listened to； it cannot be heard； it is the Inaudible。
Grasped at； it cannot be held； it is the Intangible。
These three are one。
Above； it is not light； below it is not dark。
Infinite； boundless； nameless； it reverts to nothing。
Form of the formless； image of the imageless； it is elusive。
Approach it； and you do not see its front；
Follow it； you do not see its back。
Stay with the ancient Tao； and move with the present。
Knowing what was in the beginning；
This is the thread of Tao。
15
The old sages were subtle and wise and penetrating。
They kept their minds so deep they could never be fathomed。
Therefore I will draw you a picture：
Cautious； like crossing a frozen stream in winter；
Alert； like one fearing danger on all sides；
Reserved； like a guest；
yielding； like ice beginning to melt；
simple； like uncarved wood；
open…minded； like a valley；
easy…going； like muddy water。
Who can wait quietly while the mud settles？
Who can stay still until the moment of action？
One who abides in Tao never seeks the extreme。
By never seeking the extreme； one can remain in the old yet becomethe new。
16
Empty yourself of everything； be still and at peace。
In all things' coming to being； I see their return。
They grow and flourish； and then return to their source。
This is called Quietness； a return to one's destiny。
This is the eternal law； to know it is enlightenment。
Knowing this law； you are tolerant。
Being tolerant； you are impartial。
Being impartial； you are universal。
Being universal； you are at one with nature。
At one with nature； you are in accord with Tao。
In accord with Tao； you are eternal。
17
The best leaders are barely known。
The next best are loved and praised。
The next are feared； the last are despised。
It is by not believing people that you turn them into liars。
With work and sparse words； all things happen by themselves。
18
When the great Tao was lost； there arose kindness and justice。
When knowledge and cleverness appeared； there arose great hypocrisy。
When the family is not at peace； we hear of 〃dutiful children〃。
When a nation falls to chaos and rebellion； we hear of 〃loyal ministers〃。
19
Abandon wisdom； discard knowledge； and everyone will be better off。
Abandon kindness； discard justice； and let all return to love。
Abandon cleverness； discard profit； and robbers will disappear。
All these are frills； better to adorn yourself with：
Simplicity；
originality；
humility；
and Temperance。
20
Abandon learning； and grief ends。
How much difference between yes and no？
How much difference between good and evil？
Why must I fear what others fear？
The multitude is merry； as if on a holiday； or watching a parade。
I alone am inert； like an infant not yet a child。
Drifting； belonging nowhere。
Others have more than they need； I alone seem to have lost all。
I am a fool； yes； and confused。
Others are clear and bright； I am dull and dark。
Others are clever and assured； I am blunt and obscure；
Patient as the sea； drifting like the waves。
Everyone is busy； I alone am aimless and uncouth。
I am different； I take nourishment only from my mother。
21
All powers flow from Tao； elusive and intangible。
Intangible and elusive； yet in it are all images。
Elusive and intangible； yet in it are all things。
Dark and dim； yet in it is the essence。
The essence is real； and therein lies reality。
》From the beginning until now； the named of Tao have never ceased。
Through it； we see all the origins。
How do I know all the origins？
Through This！
22
To remain whole； be twisted。
Become bent； and be straightened。
Become hollow； and be filled。
Wear out； and be renewed。
Possess little； and have much。
Have much； and be confused。
So the sage identifies opposites as one；
And becomes a model for the world。
Shining forth with no display；
eminent by never asserting；
honored by never taking credit；
enduring by never boasting。
If you never quarrel； no one will ever quarrel with you。
Thus the ancients said：
To remain whole； be twisted。
23
Nature rarely talks in words。
High winds do not last all morning。
Heavy rain does not last all day。
These are nature's words。
If even nature cannot make them last；
How much less can man？
Following Tao； you are identified with Tao。
Following power； you are id