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Those who move ahead have purpose。
Those who don't run away from their posts endure。
Those who die but don't perish live on。
34
Great Tao flows like a flood。
It can go left and right。
The myriad things depend on it for life
And it does not forsake them。
It does its work but lays claim to no merit。
It shields and nourishes the myriad things
And does not act as their lord。
Always desireless it may seem insignificant；
Yet the myriad things return to it
And it does not act as their lord。
Thus it may seem to be great。
The sage； too； does not strive to be great
So he is able to achieve greatness。
35
Embrace the great idea
And the whole world will come to you。
It'll come to you and suffer no harm。
It'll find no peril but contentment and peace。
Travelers stop for food and for music
Yet it is said of Tao
That it is tasteless and bland。
When you look at it； there's not enough of it to see。
When you listen to it； there's not enough of it to hear。
Yet； when you use it； you can't use it up。
36
If you wish to make something small
You have to expand it。
If you wish to make something weak
You have to strengthen it。
If you wish to make something fall
You have to promote it。
If you wish to make something gone
You have to provide it。
This is called
Darkening what's bright。
What's soft and weak defeats what's hard and strong。
Fish should not be taken away from the ocean。
Sharp weapons of the state
Should not be shown to the people。
37
Tao invariably takes no action
Yet there is nothing left undone。
If kings and lords could follow it
The myriad things would transform by themselves。
And should they wish to take action once more
I'd quiet them
With nameless simplicity。
The nameless simplicity
Is like uncut wood：
It has no desires。
Without desires there is tranquility
And heaven and earth become stable by themselves。
38
Highest virtue does not follow virtue；
That is why it has virtue。
Lowest virtue does not stray from virtue；
That is why it lacks virtue。
Highest virtue takes no action
Yet it lacks reasons for doing so。
Lowest virtue takes action
Yet it has reasons for doing so。
Highest compassion takes action
Yet it lacks reasons for doing so。
Highest justice takes action
Yet it has reasons for doing so。
Highest ritual takes action
Yet if someone does not respond
It shows its fist to them and makes them comply。
When Tao is renounced there is virtue。
When virtue is renounced there is compassion。
When compassion is renounced there is justice。
When justice is renounced there is ritual。
Ritual is but a shadow of sincerity。
It's the beginning of confusion。
Foreknowledge is but a husk of Tao。
It's the beginning of ignorance。
Therefore those who are great
Dwell in the solid core and not in the shadow。
They dwell in the fruit； not in the husk。
It is the fruit they choose； the husk they spurn。
39
In days of old these became whole：
Having become whole； heaven became clear。
Having become whole； earth became stable。
Having become whole； spirits became vibrant。
Having become whole； valleys became full。
Having become whole； the myriad things became alive。
Having become whole； the nobles set the realm right。
This is what they achieved by becoming whole。
If heaven had not become clear
It would likely break open。
If earth had not become stable
It would likely collapse。
If spirits had not become vibrant
They would likely cease to exist。
If valleys had not become full
They would likely become exhausted。
If the myriad things had not become alive
They would likely die。
If the nobles had not become esteemed
They would likely fall。
Thus the nobles have the commoners as their root。
And the high rank has the low rank as its base。
And the high rank has the low rank as its base。
That is why 〃orphans；〃 〃lonely〃 and 〃worthless〃
Are the names kings and lords use for themselves。
Do they not have the commoners as their root？
Too much honor is no honor。
They don't wish to glitter like gemstones。
They prefer to rumble like rocks。
40
Returning is the action of Tao。
Yielding is the function of Tao。
The myriad things arise from what there is。
What there is arises from what there is not。
41
When the best students hear of Tao
They follow it with all their might。
When average students hear of Tao
Sometimes they heed it sometimes they don't。
When the worst students hear of Tao
They laugh at it heartily。
Were it not laughed at；
Tao would not be what it is。
Thus it is said：
A path that is bright seems to be dim。
A path going forward seems to go back。
A path that is smooth seems to be uneven。
The highest virtue seems to be hollow。
The purest white seems to be sullied。
The amplest virtue seems insufficient。
The firmest virtue seems unsteady。
The genuine virtue seems to be fickle。
The greatest realm is without boundaries。
The finest talent matures late。
Harmonious music makes no noise。
The perfect form has no substance。
Tao is hidden and nameless。
Yet it is Tao that sustains all things
And brings them to completion。
42
Tao gave birth to the One。
One gave birth to the Two。
Two gave birth to the Three。
The Three gave birth to the myriad things。
The myriad things have their backs in shadows
Their faces bask in the light。
Through the blending of life forces they achieve harmony。
〃orphaned；〃 〃lonely〃 and 〃worthless〃
Are conditions which people detest
Yet the nobles describe themselves with those names。
Thus sometimes by losing we gain。
And sometimes by gaining we lose。
What others teach I also teach：
〃The violent have earned their death。〃
This is the source of my teaching。
43
The soft things of the world can overcome the hard ones。
Those that have no substance can penetrate the solid。
Therefore I know non…action wins success。
Teaching without words；
Succeeding without action …
These are understood by the very few。
44
Your name or your life： which do you hold dearer？
Your life or your wealth： which truly has value？
Victory or loss： which truly gives pain？
If you care to a fault you will certainly suffer。
If you pile up your wealth you're bound to take a loss。
If you are contented you meet with no disgrace。
If you are able to stop you are free from danger。
You can then last through all time。
45
Greatest perfection seems to be flawed
Yet its usefulness is never impaired。
Greatest abundance seems to be void
Yet its usefulness never wears out。
G