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These in the eyes of Tao
Are called 〃the dregs and tumors of Virtue；〃
Which are things of disgust。
Therefore the man of Tao spurns them。
25
Before the Heaven and Earth existed
There was something nebulous：
Silent； isolated；
Standing alone； changing not；
Eternally revolving without fail；
Worthy to be the Mother of All Things。
I do not know its name
And address it as Tao。
If forced to give it a name； I shall call it 〃Great。〃
Being great implies reaching out in space；
Reaching out in space implies far…reaching；
Far…reaching implies reversion to the original point。
Therefore：
Tao is Great；
The Heaven is great；
The Earth is great；
The King is also great。
There are the Great Four in the universe；
And the King is one of them。
Man models himself after the Earth；
The Earth models itself after Heaven；
The Heaven models itself after Tao；
Tao models itself after nature。
26
The Solid is the root of the light；
The Quiescent is the master of the Hasty。
Therefore the Sage travels all day
Yet never leaves his provision…cart。
In the midst of honor and glory；
He lives leisurely； undisturbed。
How can the ruler of a great country
Make light of his body in the empire （by rushing about）？
In light frivolity； the Center is lost；
In hasty action； self…mastery is lost。
27
A good runner leaves no track。
A good speech leaves no flaws for attack。
A good reckoner makes use of no counters。
A well…shut door makes use of no bolts；
And yet cannot be opened。
A well…tied knot makes use of no rope；
And yet cannot be untied。
Therefore the Sage is good at helping men；
For that reason there is no rejected （useless） person。
He is good at saving things；
For that reason there is nothing rejected。
… This is called stealing the Light。
Therefore the good man is the Teacher of the bad。
And the bad man is the lesson of the good。
He who neither values his teacher
Nor loves the lesson
Is one gone far astray；
Though he be learned。
… Such is the subtle secret。
28
He who is aware of the Male
But keeps to the Female
Becomes the ravine of the world。
Being the ravine of the world；
He has the original character （teh） which is not
cut up。
And returns again to the （innocence of the） babe。
He who is conscious of the white （bright）
But keeps to the black （dark）
Becomes the model for the world。
Being the model for the world；
He has the eternal power which never errs；
And returns again to the Primordial Nothingness。
He who is familiar with honor and glory
But keeps to obscurity
Becomes the valley of the world。
Being the valley of the world；
He has an eternal power which always suffices；
And returns again to the natural integrity of uncarved
wood。
Break up this uncarved wood
And it is shaped into vessel
In the hands of the Sage
They become the officials and magistrates。
Therefore the great ruler does not cut up。
29
There are those who will conquer the world
And make of it （what they conceive or desire）。
I see that they will not succeed。
（For） the world is God's own Vessel
It cannot be made （by human interference）。
He who makes it spoils it。
He who holds it loses it。
For：？Some things go forward；
Some things follow behind；
some blow hot；
And some blow cold；
Some are strong；
And some are weak；
Some may break；
And some may fall。
Hence the Sage eschews excess； eschews extravagance；
Eschews pride。
30
He who by Tao purposes to help the ruler of men
Will oppose all conquest by force of arms。
燜or such things are wont to rebound。
Where armies are； thorns and brambles grow。
The raising of a great host
Is followed by a year of dearth。
Therefore a good general effects his purpose and stops。
He dares not rely upon the strength of arms；
Effects his purpose and does not glory in it；
Effects his purpose and does not boast of it；
Effects his purpose and does not take pride in it；
Effects his purpose as a regrettable necessity；
Effects his purpose but does not love violence。
（For） things age after reaching their prime。
That （violence） would be against the Tao。
And he who is against the Tao perishes young。
31
Of all things； soldiers are instruments of evil；
Hated by men。
Therefore the religious man （possessed of Tao） avoids them。
The gentleman favors the left in civilian life；
But on military occasions favors the right。
Soldiers are weapons of evil。
They are not the weapons of the gentleman。
When the use of soldiers cannot be helped；
The best policy is calm restraint。
Even in victory； there is no beauty；
And who calls it beautiful
Is one who delights in slaughter。
He who delights in slaughter
Will not succeed in his ambition to rule the world。
＇The things of good omen favor the left。
The things of ill omen favor the right。
The lieutenant…general stands on the left；
The general stands on the right。
That is to say； it is celebrated as a Funeral Rite。＇
The slaying of multitudes should be mourned with sorrow。
A victory should be celebrated with the Funeral Rite。
32
Tao is absolute and has no name。
Though the uncarved wood is small；
It cannot be employed （used as vessel） by anyone。
If kings and barons can keep （this unspoiled nature）；
The whole world shall yield them lordship of their own
accord。
The Heaven and Earth join；
And the sweet rain falls；
Beyond the command of men；
Yet evenly upon all。
Then human civilization arose and there were names。
Since there were names；
It were well one knew where to stop。
He who knows where to stop
May be exempt from danger。
Tao in the world
May be compared to rivers that run into the sea。
33
He who knows others is learned；
He who knows himself is wide。
He who conquers others has power of muscles；
He who conquers himself is strong。
He who is contented is rich。
He who id determined has strength of will。
He who does not lose his center endures。
He who dies yet （his power） remains has long life。
34
The Great Tao flows everywhere；
（Like a flood） it may go left or right。
The myriad things derive their life from it；
And it does not deny them。
When its work is accomplished；
It does not take possession。
It clothes and feeds the myriad things；
Yet does not claim them as its own。
Often （regarded） without mind or passion；
It may be considered small。
Being the home of all things； yet claiming not；
It may be considered great。
Because to the end it does not claim greatness；
Its greatness is achieved。
35
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