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Superior energy is actionless because motiveless。
Inferior energy acts from motive。
Superior magnanimity is active but motiveless。
Superior equity is active from motive。
Superior propriety is active； is bares its arm and asserts itself when it meets with no response。
Thus as the Tao recedes there are energies； as the energies recede there is magnanimity； as magnanimity recedes there is equity； as equity recedes there is propriety。
Inasmuch as propriety is the attenuation of conscientiousness it is the origin of disorder。
The beginnings of consciousness are flower of Tao； but the commencement of delusion。
Therefore the men who are great live with that which is substantial； they do not abide with realities； they do not remain with what is showy。 The one they discard； the other they hold。
39
The things which from of old harmonized with the One are： The heavens； which through the One are clear； the earth； which through the One is reposeful； the gods； which through the One are spiritual； space； which through the One is full； whatever has form； which through the One develops； princes and monarchs； which through the One adjust the empire： these are all effects of the One。
Were the heavens not thus clear they would be liable to rend； were the earth thus not reposeful； it would be liable to frothiness； were the gods not thus spiritual； they would be liable to imbecility； were space thus not full； it would be liable to exhaustion； were that which had form not thus developed； it would be liable to
annihilation； were princes and monarchs not thus regulated； their dignities and honours would be liable to a downfall。
Hence humility is the root of honour： lowliness the foundation of loftiness。 It is on this account that princes and monarchs style themselves 搆ithless；？揻riendless；？搖nworthies。？Do they not thus acknowledge humility as their root？
The enumeration of the parts of a carriage no not make a carriage。
Desire neither the polish of the gem； nor the roughness of the stone。
40
The movements of the Tao are cyclical； the sufficiency of the Tao is latency。
All that is； exists in being； being in non…being。
41
The true student hears of the Tao； he is diligent and practices it。
The average student hear of it； sometimes he appears to be attentive； then again he is inattentive。
The half hearted student hears of it； he loudly derides it。 If it did not provoke ridicule it would not be worthy of the name ？Tao。
Again there are those whose only care is phraseology。
The brilliancy of the Tao is an obscurity； the advance of the Tao is a retreat； the equality of the Tao is an inequality； the higher energy is as cosmic space； the greatest purity is as uncleanness； the widest virtue is as if insufficient； established virtue is as if furtive； the truest essence is as imperfection； the most perfect square
is cornerless； the largest vessel is last completed； the loudest sound has fewest tones； the grandest conception is formless。
The Tao is concealed and nameless； yet it is the Tao alone which excels in imparting and completing。
42
The Tao produced the One。 The One produced two； the two produced three； the three produced all things。
Everything is permeated by the yin and the yang and vivified by the immaterial breath。
That which men hate is to be kithless； friendless and considered unworthy； but princes and dukes thus style themselves。 Form this it would appear that advantages are disadvantageous； and disadvantages are advantageous。
I teach what others have taught。
The violent and the fierce do no live out their years。
I shall be chief among the teachers。
43
The world抯 weakest drives the world抯 strongest。
The indiscernible penetrates where there are no crevices。
From this I perceive the advantage of non…action。
Few indeed in the world realize the instruction of the silence； or the benefits of inaction。
44
Fame or life； which is dearer？ Life or wealth； which is more？ Gain or loss； which is worse？
Excessive love implies excessive outlay。 Immoderate accumulation implies heavy loss。
Who knows contentment meets no shame。 Who knows when to stop incurs no danger。 Such long endure。
45
The greatest attainment is as though incomplete； but its utility remains unimpaired。
The greatest fullness is as a void； but its utility is inexhaustible。
The greatest uprightness is as crookedness； the greatest cleverness as clumsiness； the greatest eloquence as reticence。
Motion overcomes cold； stillness conquers heat。
Purity and stillness are the world抯 standards。
46
When the empire is controlled by the Tao； riding horses are employed in agriculture； when the empire is without Tao； war horses are in every open space。
There is no sin greater than covetousness； no calamity greater than discontent； no fault greater than acquisitiveness。
Who therefore knows the contentment of content possesses unchanging content。
47
The world may be known without going out of doors。
The heavenly way （Tao） may be seen without looking through the window。
The further one goes the less one knows。
Hence the Holy Man arrives without traveling； names without looking； accomplishes without action。
48
The pursuit of study bring daily increase； the pursuit of Tao brings daily decrease； decrease upon decrease； until non…action is reached； whence all action proceeds。
Only continued non…concern will win the Empire； where there is concern there is an insufficiency for the task。
49
The Holy Man is not inflexible； he plans according to the needs of the people。
I would return good for good。 I would also return good for evil。 Thus goodness operates （or 搕hus all become good？。
I would return trust for trust。 I would also return trust for suspicion。 Thus trust operates （or 搕hus all become trustworthy？。
The Holy Man as he dwells in the world is very apprehensive concerning it； blending his heart with the whole。 Most men plan for themselves。 The Holy Man treats every one as a child。
50
Birth is an exit； death an entrance。
Three in ten are ways of life； three in ten are ways of death； three in ten also of those who live move into the realm of death。 Why is this？ Because of their excessive strivings after life。 It has been said that he who thoroughly understands how to care for life will not need to shun the rhinoceros or the tiger； he need not fear weapons even in the midst of battle。 The rhinoceros finds no place into which to thrust his horn； the tiger no place into which to fix his claws； nor the sword a place into which to flesh its point。 Why is this？
Because such a one is not moved by the thought of death。
51
Whet the Tao produces and its energy nourishes； nature forms and natural forces establish。 On this account there is nothing that does not honour the Tao and reverence its energy。 This honour and reverence are spontaneous； not the result of a mandate。
So the Tao produces。 Its energy nourishes； increases； fe