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26
Heaviness is the basis of lightness； Calmness is the controlling power of hastiness。
Therefore the Sage； though traveling all day long； Never separates from his baggage…wagon； Though surrounded with magnificent sights； He lives in tranquillity。
How is it； then； that a king of ten thousand chariots Should conduct himself so lightly in the empire？
To be light is to lose the basis； To be hasty is to lose the controlling power。
27
A good traveler leaves no track； A good speaker leaves no error； A good reckoner needs no counter；
A good closer needs no bars or bolts； And yet it is impossible to open after him。 A good fastener needs no cords or knots； And yet it is impossible to untie after him。
Even if men be bad； why should they be rejected？ Therefore the Sage is always a good saviour of men； And no man is rejected； He is a good saviour of things； And nothing is rejected： This is called double enlightenment。
Therefore good men are had men's instructors； And bad men are good men's materials。
Those who do not esteem their instructors； And those who do not love their materials； Though expedient； are in fact greatly confused。 This is essential subtlety。
28
He who knows the masculine and yet keeps to the feminine Will become a channel drawing all the world towards it； Being a channel of the world； he will not be severed from the eternal virtue； And then he can return again to the state of infancy。
He who knows the white and yet keeps to the black Will become the standard of the world； Being the standard of the world； with him eternal virtue will never falter； And then he can return again to the absolute。
He who knows honour and yet keeps to humility Will become a valley that receives all the world into it； Being a valley of the world； with him eternal virtue Will be complete； And then he can return again to wholeness。
Wholeness； when divided； will make vessels of utility； These when employed by the Sage will become officials and chiefs。 However； for a great function no discrimination is needed。
29
When a man is to take the world over and shape it； I see that he must be obliged to do it。
For the world is a divine vessel： It cannot be shaped； Nor can it be insisted upon。 He who shapes it damages it； He who insists upon it loses it。
Therefore the Sage does not shape it； so he does not damage it； 'He does not insist upon it； so be does not lose it。 'For； among all things； some go ahead； while others lag behind； Some keep their mouth shut； while others give forth puffs； Some are strong； while others are weak； Some are on the cart； while others fall off。
Therefore the Sage avoids excess； extravagance and indulgence。
30
He who assists a ruler of men with Tao does not force the world with arms。
For the actions of arms will be well requited； where armies have been quartered brambles and thorns grow。 Great wars are for certain followed by years of scarcity。
He aims only at carrying out relief； and does not venture to force his power upon others。
When relief is done； he will not be assuming； He will not be boastful； he will not be proud； And he will think that he was obliged to do it。 So it comes that relief is done without resorting to force。
When things come to the summit of their vigour； they begin to grow old。 This is against Tao。 What is against Tao will soon come to an end。
31
So far as arms are concerned； they are implements of ill…omen。 They are not implements for the man of Tao。
The man of Tao when dwelling at home makes the left as the place of honour； and when using arms makes the right as the place of honour。
He uses them only when he cannot avoid it。
In his conquests he takes no delight。 If he take delight in them； it would mean that he enjoys in the slaughter of men。 He who takes delight in the slaughter of men cannot have his will done in the world。
32
When for the first time applied to function； it was named。 In as much as names are given； one should also know where to stop。 Knowing where to stop one can become imperishable。
Tao was always nameless。
33
He who knows others is wise； He who knows himself is enlightened。
He who conquers others is strong； He who conquers himself is mighty。
He who knows contentment is rich。 He who keeps on his course with energy has will。
He who does not deviate from his proper place will long endure。 He who may die but not perish has longevity。
34
The great Tao pervades everywhere； both on the left and on the right。
By it all things came into being； and it does not reject them。 Merits accomplished； it does not possess them。 It loves and nourishes all things but does not dominate over them。
It is always non…existent； therefore it can be named as small。
All things return home to it； and it does not claim mastery over them； therefore it can be named as great。
Because it never assumes greatness； therefore it can accomplish greatness。
35
To him who holds to the Great Form all the world will go。 It will go and see no danger； but tranquillity； equality and community。
Music and dainties will make the passing stranger stop。
But Tao when uttered in words is so pure and void of flavour When one looks at it； one cannot see it； When one listens to it； one cannot hear it。 However； when one uses it； it is inexhaustible。 But we use it without end。
36
In order to contract a thing； one should surely expand it first。 In order to weaken； one will surely strengthen first。 In order to overthrow； one will surely exalt first。 'In order to take； one will surely give first'！
This is called subtle wisdom。 The soft and weak can overcome the hard and strong。
As the fish should not leave the deep So should the sharp implements of a nation not be shown to anyone！
37
Tao is ever inactive； and yet there is nothing that it does not do。
If princes and kings could keep to it； all things would of themselves become developed。 When they are developed； desire would stir in them； I would restrain them by the nameless Simplicity； In order to make them free from desire。
Free from desire； they would be at rest； And the world would of itself become rectified。 However insignificant Simplicity seems； the whole world cannot make it submissive。 If princes and kings could keep to it； All things in the world would of themselves pay homage。 Heaven and earth would unite to send down sweet dew。 The people with no one to command them would of themselves become harmonious。 When merits are accomplished and affairs completed； The people would speak of themselves as following nature。
38
The superior virtue is not conscious of itself as virtue； Therefore it has virtue。 The inferior virtue never lets off virtue； Therefore it has no virtue。
The superior virtue seems inactive； and yet there is nothing that it does not do。 The inferior virtue acts and yet in the end leaves things undone。
The superior benevolence acts without a motive。 The superior righteousness acts with a motive。 The superior ritual acts； but at