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ed at； but unattainable … is may be named 搒ubtle。？br》 These three cannot be unraveled by questioning for they blend into one。
Neither brighter above ； nor darker below。
Its line； though continuous； is nameless； and in that it reverts to vacuity。
It may be styled 揟he form of the formless？ 揟he Images of the imageless？ in a word ？揟he indefinite。？br》 Go in front of it and you will discover no beginning； follow after it and you will perceive no ending。
Lay hold of this ancient doctrine； apply it in controlling the things of the present day； you will then
understand how from the first it has been the origin of everything。
Here； indeed； is the clue to the Tao。
15
Profound indeed were the most excellent among the ancients； penetrating； fathomless； inasmuch as they were fathomless it becomes necessary to employ far fetched symbols when speaking of them。
Irresolute ？as if fording a stream in winter。
Timid ？as though fearful of their neighbours。
Grave ？as if they were guests。
Elusive ？like ice about to melt。
Simple ？like raw material。
Expansive ？like the space between hills。
Turbid ？like muddy water。
Who can still the turbid and make it gradually clear； or quiet the active so that by degrees it shall become productive？ Only he who keeps this Tao； without desiring fullness。 If one is not full it is possible to be antiquated and not newly fashioned。
16
Abstraction complete； quiescence maintained unalloyed； the various forms rise with one accord； and I observe that each returns again。 All things thrive and increase； then each returns again to the root。 This return to the root is called 搒tillness；？or it may be described as a return to report that they have fulfilled
their destiny。 This report is called 搕he unchanging rule。？br》 Knowledge of this unchanging rule is called 搃llumination。？Those who are ignorant of it give way to abandon and to recklessness。
Knowledge of this unchanging rule leads to toleration。
Toleration leads to comprehension。
Comprehension leads to sovereignty。
Sovereignty leads to heavenlikeness。
Heaven…likeness leads to Tao。
Tao leads to continuity。
Though the body be no more； there is no danger。
17
First the supreme。 Then a sense of separateness。 Next preferences and eulogies。 Lastly； fear。 Then scorn。
Hence it is plain that lack of sincerity has its origins in superficial faith。
Cautious！ They valued their words； accomplished their purposes； settled their affairs； and the people all said： 揥e are spontaneous。？br》
18
The great Tao faded and there was benevolence and righteousness。 Worldly wisdom and shrewdness appeared and there was much dissembling。
The family relationships no longer harmonious； there was filial piety and paternal love。
The state and the clans in anarchy； there was loyalty and faithfulness。
19
Abandon knowledge； discard wisdom ？the people will gain a hundred fold。
Abandon the humanities； discard righteousness ？the people will return to filial love。
Abandon cleverness； discard gain ？robbers and thieves will be no more。
These three； being considered not sufficiently aesthetic； therefore many other devices were added。
Better observe simplicity； encourage primitiveness； lessen the number of private projects； and moderate desire。
20
Scholarship abandoned； sorrow vanishes。
Yes and yea； are they not almost alike？
Goodness and evil； are they not akin？
Untrammeled and without limits ？yet that may not be lightly esteemed which all men reverence。
The multitude are joyful and merry ？as though feasting on a day of sacrifice； or ascending a high tower in spring。 I alone am anchored without giving any sign ？like an infant； undeveloped。
My homeless heart wanders among the things of sense； as if it had nowhere to stay。
The multitude have enough and to spare ？I alone am as one who has lost something。
Have I then the mind of a fool？ Am I so very confused？
Ordinary men are bright enough。 I alone am dull。
Ordinary men are full of excitement。 I alone am heavy…hearted。
Boundless as the sea； drifting to and fro； as if without a place to rest。
All men have some purpose。 I alone am thick…headed as a boor。
I am alone ？differing from others； in that I reverence and seek the Nursing Mother。
21
The comprehensiveness of supreme energy is its conformity to the Tao。
The Tao considered as an entity is impalpable； indefinite。 Indefinite； impalpable； within are concretions。
Impalpable； indefinite； within are shapes。 Profound； obscure； within there is essence。 This essence being supremely real； within is sincerity。
From the beginning until now it has not changed； and thus it has watched all the essentials。 How do I know it has been thus will all principles？ By what has just been said。
22
To be crooked is to be perfected； to be bent is to be straightened； to be lowly is to be filled； to be senile is to be renewed； to be diminished is to be able to receive； to be increased is to be deluded。
Therefore the Holy Man embraces unity； and becomes the world抯 model。
He is not self…regarding； therefore he is cognizant。
He is not egotistic； therefore he is distinguished。
He is not boastful； therefore he has merit。
He is not conceited； therefore he is superior。
Inasmuch as he strives with none； there are none in the world able to strive with him。
That ancient maxim ？慣o be crooked is to become perfected？？was it an idle word？ Verily； it includes the whole。
23
Few words are natural。
A whirlwind does not outlast the morning； a deluge does not outlast the day。 Who produces these？ The Heaven…Earth。 If the Heaven…Earth cannot produce lasting phenomena； how much less can man？
Wherefore settling everything in accordance with the Tao； embodying the Tao they become identified with the Tao。 Embodying its virtue； they become identified with virtue。 Embodying loss； they become identified with loss。
Identified with Tao； they joyfully accept the Tao； identified with virtue； they joyfully accept virtue； identified with loss； they joyfully accept loss。
If sincerity is lacking it is because of superficial faith。
24
Who tiptoes； totters。 Who straddles； stumbles。 The self…regarding cannot cognize； the egotistic are not distinguished； the boastful are not meritorious； the self…conceited cannot excel。 Such from the standpoint of the Tao are like remnants of food； or parasites； which all things probably detest。 Hence； those who possess the Tao are not so。
25
There was a completed； amorphous something before the Heaven…Earth was born。 Tranquil！ Boundless！
Abiding alone and changing not！ Extending everywhere without risk。 It may be styled 搕he world…mother。？br》 I do not know its name； but characterize it ？tae Tao。 Arbitrarily forcing a name upon it I call it the Great。
Great； it may be said to be transitory。 Transitory； it become remote。 Remote； it returns。
The Tao； then； is great； Heaven is great； Earth is Great； a king is also great。 I