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conceited； and therefore he increases ＇in knowledge＇。 And as he never strives with anybody； so the world does not strive with him。
Can that saying of the olden times？First the sprouts； then perfection〃梑e called meaningless？ The attainment of genuine perfection implies a reversion ＇to the original nature of man＇。
23
Reticence in speech leads to spontaneity。 A boisterous wind does not continue after dawn； a deluge of rain does not outlast the day。 Who is it that produces these two phenomena？桯eaven and Earth。 Seeing； then； that the forces of nature cannot last for ever； how much less can man？
Wherefore among those who order their affairs in accordance with TAO； those who understand the doctrine are identified with TAO； those who are possessed of virtue are identified with the Virtue ＇or attributes梠f TAO＇； while those who lose both are identified with their loss棧o that they do not recognise it as being loss＇。
Those who become thus identified with TAO are also received joyfully by those who already possess the TAO。 Those who become identified with its Virtue are also received joyfully by those who already possess the Virtue。 The loss sustained by those who are identified with the loss of both is also rejoiced in by those who are already in the same case。
Where there is insufficiency of faith on the part of one； there will result an entire absence of faith on the part of others。
24
A man who raises himself on tiptoe cannot remain firm。 A man with crooked legs cannot walk ＇far＇。
He who says himself that he can see is not enlightened。 He who says himself that he is right is not manifested to others。 He who praises himself has no merit。 He who is self…conceited will not increase ＇in knowledge＇。
Such men may be said to search after TAO that they may gorge themselves in feeding； and act the parasite； moreover； they are universally detested。 Therefore those who are possessed of TAO do not act thus。
25
There was Something formed from chaos； which came into being before Heaven and Earth。 Silent and boundless it stands alone； and never changes。 It pervades every place； and incurs no danger ＇of being impaired＇。 It may be called the Mother of the Universe。 I know not its name； but its designation is TAO。 If forced to call it something； I will call it great。 Being great； it moves ever onward； and thus I say that it is remote。 Being remote； I say that it returns。
Therefore TAO is great； Heaven is great； Earth is great； and the King also is great。 In the Universe there are four things that are great； and the King is one of them。 Man regulates himself by the Earth； Earth regulates itself by Heaven； Heaven regulates itseIf by TAO； and TAO regulates itseIf by its own inherent nature梠r； spontaneously。
26
The weighty is the source of the light； stillness dominates disquietude。 Wherefore； while the Sage proceeds the whole day ＇according to TAO＇； he never departs from either calmness or gravity。 Although there may be spectacles of worldly glory ＇to attract him＇ he sits quietly alone； far above the common crowd。 How is that a Prince of Ten Thousand Studs of Horses can regard his own person as of less importance than his regal dignity？
This lightness ＇on the part of the Prince＇ loses him his Ministers； while restlessness ＇on the part of the Ministers＇ loses them their Prince。
* The phrase ### might well be rendered 〃is the ruin of their Prince；〃 but this is not sanctioned by Lü Ts？； who interprets it as meaning that such Ministers will be dismissed。
27
The conduct of the virtuous leaves neither trace nor clue。 The words of the virtuous afford no ground for fault…finding。 The projects of the virtuous require no intrigue。
When the virtuous are obstructed ＇in their policy＇； though there be no bolt to the door which shuts them in； it yet cannot be opened。 When the virtuous enter into relations with others； though they be not bound by the ties of contract； they yet may not release themselves ＇from their obligations＇。
Thus the Sage ever uses his goodness in saving others； and therefore there are none who are abandoned。 He ever uses his goodness in saving the inanimate creation； and therefore there are none of these who are abandoned。 This is called being doubly enlightened。
Wherefore the virtuous man is the teacher； or patron； of the bad man； while the bad man is employed as material； on which to work； by the virtuous man。 If the bad man does not reverence the other as his teacher； nor the good man love the former as his material； then； in spite of any wisdom either may possess； they are both greatly blinded。 This doctrine is both important and sublime。
28
He who； conscious of manly strength； guards a womanly weakness； becomes the channel of the whole Empire ＇to which all minor streams converge＇。 Being thus the channel of the whole Empire； the cardinal virtues ＇###＇ will never depart from him； and he will revert to a condition of childlike innocence。
He who； conscious of light； keeps in obscurity； will become a model for the whole Empire。 Being a model for the whole Empire； the cardinal virtues will never fail him； and he will revert to the Unconditioned。
He who； conscious of his glory； guards humility； will become the valley of the whole Empire。 Being the valley of the Empire； he will revert to his original simplicity。 When this simplicity is distributed； q。d。； brought into play； the man becomes a thing of utility ＇to the State＇。
* That is； an implement。 Compare the expression ### a man of talent； an able officer。 The Commentator refers us to the Lun Yü； Book V； chap。 3； q。v。
The Sage employs men of this simplicity； and advances them to high rank； therefore his administration is on a grand scale； and never comes to an end。
29
When a man desires to obtain the Empire； and govern it ＇by acting on this principle of simplicity＇； I see that he does so in spite of himself。 The insignia of royalty may not be used by such。
* The sacred vessels； or tripods； of the Empire were those made after the semblance of the constellation ### by the Yellow Emperor。 See K慳ng Hsi； under the character ###。 The idea of the Commentator； which is exceedingly difficult to catch； is that the man who embraces the simplicity of TAO； referred to in the previous chapter； should； to be consistent； have nothing to do with the pomp and trappings of Imperial state。 It is true that the rendering of ### by 〃used〃 is a liberty； and the idea apparently is that in the reign of such an Emperor as Lao Tsze is supposing such things should not even be made。
Those who make them will break them； those who clutch at them will lose them。 For among the things of the world there are those who lead and those who follow； there are ejaculations of grief and ejaculations of gladness； there are those who are strong and those who are weak； there are those who sustain loads and those who are good for nothing。 For this reason the Sage puts away excess； display； and pride。
30
Those who use TAO in assisting their Sovereign do not employ soldiers to force the Empire。 The methods of go