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Supreme means never？ending； never？ending means far…reaching； and far…reaching means returning。 Thus Tao is supreme； the heavens are supreme； earth is supreme； and man is supreme。 There are four supremes in the universe； man is one of them。
Man is subject to the laws of the earth； the earth is subject to the laws of the universe； the universe is subject to the laws of Tao； and Tao is subject to the laws of its own Nature。
26
Heaviness （sincerity） is the root of lightness （frivolity）。 And serenity far surpasses hastiness。
The truly wise can travel all day yet never put down their baggage。 Though there be appealing distractions they remain serene； passive； undisturbed。
How can a leader of ten thousand chariots make his role obscure； insignificant？
To be light is to lose the root of lightness； to be hasty is to lose self…mastery。
27
A good traveler has no need to leave tracks； a good speaker leaves no grounds for rebuttal； a good trader needs no scales； no computer； a good door needs no latch to remain shut； a good fastener needs no rope to perfect its bond。
The truly wise are helpful to people。 No one is rejected。 The truly wise are helpful to everything。 Nothing is rejected。 They are a friend to the friendless； a hope to the hopeless。 This is double enlightenment。
Therefore the good teach the bad； the bad are lessons for the good。 Whoever dislikes such a teacher； who dislikes such a lesson； may appear learned but is misguided。 This is the subtlety of true wisdom。
28
He who knows the mystic male （Yang） yet retains the mystic female （Yin） is as a great canyon welcoming the whole world。 He has Teh and is innocent as a child。
Whoever is aware of the white （Yang） yet retains the black （Yin） is as a standard for all the world。 He has Teh and has returned to the Absolute。 Whoever is aware of fame and glory yet retains humility and obscurity is as a valley that can hold the earth。 He has Teh and has returned to Unity。
Divide the Unity； the parts become as tools。 In the hands of the truly wise they become the means to an end； but never ends in themselves。
29
Those who seek to conquer the world and shape it as they see fit never succeed。 The world is a sacred vessel and cannot be improved。 Whoever tries to alter it； spoils it； whoever tries to direct it； misleads it。 So； some things advance； others lag； some proceed in silence； others make sound； some are strong； others weak； some are forward； others retiring。 Therefore the truly wise avoid extremes； extravagance； and foolish pride。
30
Tao in War
Whoever advises a ruler according to Tao opposes conquest by war。 Policies of war tend to rebound。 Where the armies march； brambles grow。 Whenever a great army is formed； hunger and evil follow。 So； a wise general achieves his goal and stops； he does not battle beyond victory； he wins； but does not boast of it； he wins； but does not celebrate it； he wins； but does not revel in the spoils； he wins； for it is his duty to win； he wins； but not from love of violence。 Things reach their peak； then decline。 Violence opposes Tao。 Whoever opposes Tao dies early。
31
War Is Evil
Weapons are tools of destruction avoided by followers of Tao。 The citizen favors the creative in time of peace； the citizen favors the destructive in time of war。
Weapons are the tools of destruction not used by people of dignity； but when their use cannot be avoided； the best policy is calm restaint。
There is no beauty in victory。 Whoever calls it so delights in slaughter。 Whoever delights in slaughter is not fit to rule。
32
Tao is absolute； nameless。 A piece of wood； uncarved； natural； cannot be used by anyone。 The leaders who can be as genuine and natural as this gain the respect of the people。
The heavens and the earth join and gentle rains fall； beyond anyone抯 command； to everyone equally。
When civilization grew； names began。 With names； one should know where to stop。 Whoever knows this has security。
In the world Tao is like rain that falls into the rivers and thence to the open sea。
33
One who knows others is wise； one who knows himself is wisest。 One who conquers others is strong； one who conquers himself is strongest。
To be content is to be wealthy； to be dedicated is to be strong； to be genuine is to endure； to die and be remembered is to have immortality。
34
The great Tao is everywhere； on all sides。 Everything derives from it； nothing is rejected by it。
Through Tao everything exists yet it does not take possession。 It provides for erverything yet it does not lay claim。
Without motive it seems small。 Being the source of everything it is great。 Because it never claims greatness； its greatness shines brightly。
35
The world will follow； without fear of evil； serene； peaceful； secure； one who follows the great symbol of Yin…Yang。
Music and good food will stop the passing stranger； but Tao； offered by the spoken word； seems unappealing； tasteless。
Looked for； it cannot be seen； listend for； it cannot be heard； applied； it cannot be exhausted。
36
Govern Peacefully
That which is to contract is first expanded； that which is to weaken is first strengthened； that which is to be felled is first reinforced。 This is subtle enlightenment。
Being gentle overcomes strength。 As fish should not leave the deep； so the sharp weapons of the state should always be hidden from view。
37
Tao never acts directly； it activates erverything。 If rulers would do likewise the world would improve if itself。
But when improving； motives show。 These should be restrained by motiveless Yin。 Motiveless Yin is free of all desire； and being free of desire is to be serene。 Being serene； the world is at peace。
38
Whoever has Teh never boasts of it and so truly possesses it。 Whoever has Teh and boasts of it no longer possesses it。 Possessing Teh is to be serene； with little effort much is done and motives diminish。 Losing Teh is to be hasty； with great effort much is wasted and motives increase。
Possessing Teh is to act out of love without ulterior motive； losing Teh is to act self？righteous with an ulterior motive。
Whe a person of high station directs but sees no following of that direction； he shows his hand and forces direction。
When Tao is lost 攃ompassion？becomes doctrine； when compassion is lost 攋ustice？becomes doctrine； when justice is lost ritual becomes doctrine； ritual is the slow loss of loyalty； the beginning of unprincipled confusion。
Foreknowledge is Tao blossoming； it is also the flower of folly。 The truly wise seek the center； not the surface； take the fruit； leaving the flower。 Accept one and reject the other。
39
Lead with a Deep Unity
From past ages there has been Unity： the heavens achieved it and became clear； the earth achieved it and became firm； the valleys achieved it and became fertile； the spirit achieved it and became inspired； all things achieved it and became existent； leaders achieved it and became