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6
Nature is perpetually fertile； like a river valley
This is the feminine principle； ever capable of producing
It expresses itself in the world in uncountable ways
It is the root of all life
Subtle； so subtle； who can see it come and go？
Yet it always renews itself。
7
Heaven and earth endure forever
They last； because they do not live for themselves
But to nurture the creatures of the world
Following this； the taoist effaces herself but finds that she is heard
Cares only for others but finds his own needs met
How else can you be nurtured by the tao
Except to give yourself up to it？
8
True goodness is like water
It gives itself to all without argument
It lives in the lowest places that most scorn
And therefore it is close to the tao
So。。。
Live modestly
Reason deeply
Give wholeheartedly
Speak sincerely
Govern modestly
Work skillfully
Move in rhythm with the flow of life
Be in these ways like water； and you can never go wrong
9
Fill a bowl to the rim；？will it spill？
Force something to fit；？will it break？
Amass great wealth；？will you be robbed？
Achieve fame and status；？will you be laughed at？
Better to avoid the questions：
Accomplish your ends； then walk away
Such is the road of peace
10
Feed your emotions； but balance them
Breathe fully and effortlessly； like a child
See who you are； without distortion
Love your nation and your people； without prejudgment
Live the feminine principle； so the tao possesses you
See the world as it is； without interpretation
Be a womb to things； and a breast
Give them life； but let them be
Nurture them without demands
This is virtue
11
We fire clay to make a cup；
But we use the empty space in the center
We build walls to make a room；
But we use the empty space they surround
We form a wheel to spin；
But we need the axle hole to use it
The point：
Having something is good only to the extent
That it makes nothingness usable
12
Brilliance and splendors blind the eye
Competition and the hunt for fulfillment madden the mind
Grasping wealth leaves the hand useless for all else
Louder； faster； brighter： these things drown the senses
The tao is subtle； quiet； soft
A thread easily lost in the tumult
Therefore a wise leader feeds the belly and not the senses
Brings the people back rather than driving them on
13
Status is a cold； damp wind to the spirit
It can lead to fevers
The more status you gain； the more afraid you are to lose it
The more you lose； the more afraid you are to show your face
And this fear is like any other sickness； it limits you
It debilitates you and risks being spread to others
To earn the trust of a society you must care for its health
And so you must guard yourself against the ill effects of status
Care for the spirit of society as you would for the health of yourbody
Whoever can do that； is worthy to lead
14
You can look at it； but you can't see it；？it has no color； nosize
You can listen to it； but you can't hear it；？it has no tone；no words
You can grasp it； but you can't hold it；？it has no texture； noshape
These three senses can not measure its depths
It passes beyond where they mingle and become one
One … there is nothing greater around it
Nothing smaller inside
It has no edge； no definition； no name
And it is constantly returning to itself
It is the form of formlessness
The image of imagelessness
Subtle and hidden
How can you follow what has no back
How can you lead what has no front
Stay with it； here and now； and you will find
The thread that runs unbroken from the ancient past
15
Those ancient masters who once walked the way
Were subtle； wise； profound； penetrating
Unfathomable；？they can only be described； not known
They were cautious； as though wading a winter…swollen river
Hesitant as though fearing to offend
Moderate as a guest
Difficult to grasp as melting ice
Supple in mind and body as a green branch
Fertile as a valley
Opaque as muddy water
If you take muddy water and still it； it gradually becomes clear
Let it come to rest； and it gradually comes alive
Hold to this way； nurture that hidden life
And you will never desire to be finished
And thus will never wear yourself out
16
Be completely empty；？be tranquil to the core
The creatures of the world are all born
And by this I see their deaths
Things pour forth from the earth and each returns to it
Know this and you know tranquility； for your own fate is clear
See what is； accept it； and you are free of all burdens
No good can come from rejecting this
Without such burdens you have no prejudice
Without prejudice you give to all equally and fully
Giving equally and fully is a step along the way
And being so； you will fear nothing to the end of your days
17
The greatest leaders are never seen； their presence is never felt
Lesser rulers are loved and praised
Lesser still are hated； and obeyed through fear
And the least are despised and ignored
If you would lead people； trust them to do the right thing
When a leader accomplishes something using the tao
He steps back； moves on to something else
And lets the people praise themselves
18
What happens when the nation wanders from the tao？
The people first try to be polite； assuming things will balance themselves
Then they try to be informed； or clever； or wise； and search for solutions
Then they turn to morality； like drowning men clinging to driftwood
And only after that； when the whole land is in turmoil
Do they throw up their hands and cry for strong and loyal leaders
19
Without morality and ethics； they will thrive
Without cleverness； they will treat each other honestly
Without politeness； they will respect each other
Where you can't see how these apply； cling to their essence
Treat people simply； directly； and caringly
20
Agreement and disagreement； beauty and ugliness
What does it mean to say these are different things？
As a man who is feared by others must inevitably come to be afraid
These things feed each other； endlessly
The multitudes are ecstatic； impassioned
Like they are on their way to a great fair
I am as unimpressed as an infant that has not yet learned to smile
Detached； as though I were wandering aimlessly over the earth
Such a fool am I
They have plenty while I am lacking
They see things clearly while I am unsure
Make fine distinctions that are meaningless to me
The multitudes all have their purpose and their place in life
I alone am uncultured； ill defined
I drift from one thing to anothe