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Steadfastly maintain repose。
All creatures together have form；
I see them return again to their root。
The Master creatures come to perfect form；
Continuously they return to their root。
Continuous return to the root is called repose；
Repose is called the law of return；
The law of return is called eternity。
To know eternity is called illumination。
To ignore eternity is to draw misfortune on oneself；
To know eternity is to be great of Soul；
To be great of soul is to be a ruler；
To be a ruler is to be greater than all；
To be greater than all is to be conscious of Life；
To be conscious of Life is to endure。
The body shall disappear but not decay。
17
In ancient times
The people knew that they had rulers。
Then they loved and praised them；
Then they feared them；
Then they despised them。
The rulers did not trust the people；
The people did not trust the rulers。
The rulers were grave； their words were precious。
The people having finished their work；
and brought it to a successful issue； said：
〃We affirm the Self。〃
18
Great Tao lost；
There came the duty to man and right conduct。
Wisdom and shrewdness appearing；
There came great hypocrisy。
The six relationships inharmonious；
There came filial piety deep； deep in the heart。
Kingdoms； families； and clans at war；
There came loyal Ministers。
19
If the people renounce self…control and reject wisdom；
Let them gain simplicity and purity
If the people renounce duty to man and reject right conduct；
Let them return to filial piety deep； deep in the heart。
If they renounce skill and leave off search for profit；
Let them rob and by violence take possession of spiritual life。
These three things do not help our progress。
Therefore now let us seek
To perceive simplicity；
To conserve beauty in the heart；
To curb selfishness and to have few desires。
20
Renounce learning； it brings loss to the Inner Life。
How slight the difference between Yes and Yea！
How great the difference between Good and Evil！
That which men fear is indeed to be feared。
When men give themselves up to disorder it never stops。
Many men rejoice and rejoice over a supply of good food； over being in a high and exalted position。
I am calm； I do not feel the slightest emotion； like a new…born child which cannot yet smile at its mother； without attachment to anything； returning always to the Inner Life。
Many men have superfluous possessions。
I have nothing that I value； I desire that my heart be completely subdued； emptied to emptiness。
Men of wealth are in the daylight of prosperity。
I am in the dark。
Men of wealth are endowed with penetration。
I appear confused and ignorant。
Suddenly I am； as it were； on a vast sea； floating on the sea of Inner Life which is boundless。
Many men are full of ability。
I appear to be stupid and rustic。
Thus I am different from other men。
But I revere the Mother； Sustainer of all beings。
21
The complete manifestation of things visible proceeds only from Life。
In its nature Life is always coming into activity； yet in itself it eludes our sight and tough。
Eluding sight！ eluding touch！
Within it are hid the plane of created things。
Eluding touch！ eluding sight！
Within it are hid all created beings。
It is profound！ It is obscure！
Within it is hid pure Spirit。
It is pure Spirit； enfolding Truth！
Within it is hid an infallible witness。
Free of Old until Now
Its Name remains unchanged。
Through its Doorway comes the Universe into existence。
How do I know that the Universe is coming to full perfection through Life？
The witness is in Life itself。
22
That which is incomplete becomes complete。
The crooked becomes straight；
The empty becomes full；
The worn…out becomes new。
He who obtains has little；
He who scatters has much。
That is why the self…controlled man holds to Unity and brings it into manifestation for men。
He looks not at self； therefore he sees clearly；
He asserts not himself； therefore he shines；
He boasts not of self； therefore he has merit；
He glorifies not himself； therefore he endures。
The Master indeed does not strive； yet no one in the world can strive against him。
The words of the Ancients were not empty words：
〃That which is incomplete becomes complete。〃
Acquire completeness by returning it。
23
With few words affirm the Self。
A great wind does not blow all the morning；
A heavy wind does not continue all day。
Why is this so？
It is because of the inter…relations of Heaven and Earth。
If Heaven and Earth cannot make things last long。
How much less can man？
Therefore he who follows the service of Tao is one with Tao；
He who is virtuous is one with Teh；
He who fails is one with failure。
He who is one with Tao；
Tao shall also claim him。
He who is one with Teh
Teh shall also claim him。
He who is one with failure；
Failure shall also claim him。
Faith that is not complete is not faith。
24
He who stands on tiptoe is not steady；
He who holds legs stiffly cannot walk。
He who looks at self does not see clearly。
He who asserts himself does not shine。
He who boasts of himself has no merit。
He who glorifies himself shall not endure。
These things are to the Tao like excreta or a hideous tumour to the body。
Therefore he who has Tao must give them no place。
25
There was a Being already perfect before the existence of Heaven and Earth。
It is calm！ It is formless！
It stands alone and changes not！
Reaching everywhere and inexhaustible；
It may be regarded as Mother of the Universe。
I do not know its name。
For a title we call it the Tao。
If forced to give it a name we call it the Great。
Great； we call it the Flowing；
Flowing we call it distant；
Distant； we call it Coming again。
Therefore the Tao is Great； Heaven is Great；
The Earth is Great； the Ruler is also Great。
In the Universe four are Great；
And the Ruler is one of them。
Man finds his law in the Earth。
The Earth finds its law in Heaven；
Heaven finds its law in the Tao；
The Tao finds its law in the affirmation of Self。
26
Gravity is the root of lightness；
Quiescence is the master of motion。
That is why a king's son though he may travel all day long； does not cease to be quiet and grave； though he may achieve glory he abides in restfulness； he affirms his detachment。
How sad it would be if the Lord of a thousand chariots should conduct himself lightly in the kingdom！
If his conduct is light； he will fail as a Minister；
If he is hasty in action； he will fail as a Ruler。
27
He who walks in goodness leaves his trace in the Inner Life。
He who speaks in goodness carries no b