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called enlightenment。 Should one not know the constant；one would wantonly commit evil deeds。 By knowing the constant one can accept。By accepting one is impartial。 By being impartial one is kingly。 By beingkingly one is in concord with Heaven。 By being in concord with Heaven oneis on the Dao。 By being on the Dao one is long…lasting； and even thoughone should lose one's body one would not be endangered。
17
The people do not know that the Highest exists。 They praise and seek toget close to those on the next level。 They fear those on the next level；and despise those on the level below that。
〃When trust is inadequate there will be untrustworthiness。''
How remote they appear in their ＇valuing words =＇ unwillingness to speaklightly。 When their accomplishments come to fruition and events followtherefrom in their natural course； then the common people all say： 〃Wedid it of our own accord。''
18
When the great Dao is abandoned there then appear benevolence and righteousness。When intelligence and knowledge come into being there then appears greatartifice。 When the six kinds of kin are no longer in harmony then filialpiety and parental compassion appear。 When the realm is in disorder thenthere come to be loyal ministers。
19
Extirpate sageliness； discard wisdom； and the people will be benefitteda hundredfold。 Extirpate benevolence； discard righteousness； then the peoplewill return to filial piety and parental compassion。 Extirpate cleverness；discard profit； then robbers and thieves will be no more。 The ＇foregoing＇three ＇principles＇ are inadequately ornamented； and so I cause them tohave ＇provisional maxims＇ under which they are subsumed： Display the UnbleachedFabric and embrace the Uncarved Block。 Lessen selfish interests and decreasedesires。＇Extirpate study and have no worries。＇
20
Extirpate study and there will no longer be worries。 What difference isthere between a sound of compliance and an angry rebuff？ How far is goodfrom evil？ 〃What people fear one cannot fail to fear。'' How wild and faroff the mark！ The multitudes are joyous as though partaking in the tai…laosacrifice； or as though ascending the terraces in springtime。 I alone amplacid like something before there is even an inkling of it； like an infantbefore it has learned to smile。 Dispirited； as though having no place towhich to return。 The multitudes all have an excess； and I alone seem tohave a deficit。 I have the mind of a stupid person； so chaotic。 The ordinarypeople scintillate； I alone am muddled。 The ordinary people are very prying；I alone am closed off。＇They are＇ agitated like the sea； blown like ＇they＇would never stop。 The multitudes of people all have their goals。 I aloneam an obstinate fool and seem uncouth。 I alone am different from othersand value taking sustenance from the Mother。
21
The greatest virtue's ability to accept follows only from the Dao。 TheDao takes its guise as a creature only impalpably and intangibly。 Intangibleand impalpable there are foreshadowings within it。 Impalpable and intangiblethere are creatures within it。 Secluded and obscure； there is vitalitywithin it。 Its vitality is exceedingly genuine。 Within it there is regularity。From antiquity down to the present its true name has never been cast aside；and so by means of that true name the progenitor of the multitudes is tobe inspected。 How do I know the guises of the progenitor of the multitudes？By this。
22
〃Crumpled then whole； twisted then straight； sunken…in then full； tatteredthen new； having little then acquiring much； having much then being madedeluded''…for these reasons； the Sage embraces the One to become thestandard for the world。 He does not show himself off and so is luminous。He does not justify himself and so is illustrious。 He does not boast ofhimself and so has merit。 He does not brag on himself and so is seniorto the rest。 For only by his not being contentious does it happen thatnone in the world can contend with him。 How could it have been empty wordswhen the ancients said： 〃Crumpled then whole？'' Verily such a one shallreturn whole to his source。
23
To be taciturn is the way of nature。 For a gale cannot last the whole morning。A torrential rain cannot last the entire day。 What makes them？ Heaven andEarth。 How can humans make things endure for long when not even Heavenand Earth can do so？ So in engaging in activities； those who act in accordwith the Dao are akin to the Dao； those who act in accord with Virtue areakin to Virtue； and those who act in accord with Loss are akin to Loss。Those who act in accord with the Dao are welcomed by the Dao。 Those whoact in accord with Virtue are welcomed by Virtue。 Those who act in accordwith Loss are welcomed by Loss。
〃When trust is inadequate； there will be untrustworthiness。''
24
Those who rise on tiptoe do not stand firm。 Those who straddle as wideas possible cannot move。 Those who show themselves off are not luminous。Those who justify themselves are not illustrious。 Those who boast of themselveshave no merit。 Those who brag on themselves do not stand senior to others。In respect of the Dao； these ＇behaviors＇ are said to be leftovers and excrescences。Creatures always loath them； and so those who have the Dao do not involvethemselves therewith。
25
There is a thing that was turbidly formed； born before Heaven and Earth。Solitary and vacant； it stands alone and unchanging。 It reaches everywherewithout falling into any danger。 It can be the mother of the world。 I knownot its taboo name。 To serve as a name…for…outsiders I call it Dao； andif forced to provide a taboo name will call it the Great。 Being great meansgoing forward。 Going forward means being far。 Being far means turning backon itself。 So the Dao is great； Heaven is great； Earth is great； and theking is also great。 Within the domain there are four greats； and the theking is one of them。 Humans model themselves on Earth； Earth models itselfon Heaven； Heaven models itself on the Dao； and the Dao models itself onwhat is as it is in itself。
26
Heaviness is the root of lightness。 Tranquility is the ruler of agitation。For this reason； the Sage travels all day without departing from his heavy…framedvehicle。 Only when there are encircling way stations does he reside athis ease in seclusion。
How can a ruler of a myriad chariots treat himself with levity comparedto the ＇things of the＇ world？
If one ＇abandons oneself to＇ levity then one loses one's roots； andif one becomes agitated then one will lose one's autonomy。
27
Good traveling leaves no ruts。 Good speech gives rise to no reproach。 Goodreckoning does not depend on counting slips。 Good closures need no barsand yet cannot be opened。 Good bonds employ no rope and yet cannot be undone。For this reason the Sage is always good at saving people and so none isabandoned。 He is always good at saving creatures and so none is abandoned。＇This condition＇ is called practicing brightness。 So the good person isthe teacher of those who are not good； and people who are not good arethe raw materials for those who are good。 Should one fail to value histeacher or fail to love his raw m