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He who works and moves on the even dao ＇co…path＇seems to go up and down； the least hilly way often looks as if it wentthus； as level dao appears uneven。
Great virtue seems hollow and empty。 Thetruly loftiest might looks like an abyss； superior virtue appears likea valley （hollow）。 Great capability is ＇granted to be＇ hollow。 Yes； theloftiest is something abysmal。
Sheerest white seems blurred； sheer whiteis like tarnished； （most） purity seems like disgrace。
The most sufficing might looks inadequate；far…reaching virtue hardly seems to be enough； and great ＇and rustic＇ characterappears to be not enough ＇but it's all the same＇。
The ＇organising＇ might that stands most firmseems flimsy。 Solid character looks infirm； and solid virtue unsteady。
Whats in its natural； pure state looks faded：True substance looks changeable； and pure worth seems dirtied。
The largest square has no corners： greatspace has no corners。
The greatest capacities develop latest； andgreat talent could be slow to mature； as they say： The greatest vesseltakes the longest to finish。 The great tool and talent is slow to finish（or mature）。 Great tools do slow work。 Great inside talent takes long toripen。
Great music is far from course； ＇at times＇rare； it could be hard to get； or hardly heard。
Great； hidden form has neither shape norcontour； as great here means of dao； ＇which is thought up as＇ hidden andwithout （overtly sounded） name。
Now； dao backs all things financially； daoalone skilfully provides for all … it supports all things and advances＇some＇ to perfection。 Well dao…lent power could bring us （some degree of）fulfilment。 Skilled； able dao…lending （of some majesty and power） couldbring ＇Christian＇ fulfilment。
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Dao gave birth to the one； the one gave birthsuccessively to two things； three things； up the everything； everybodyand the whole world we know。
The ten thousand things carry the yin assome back or behind； and hug the yang in front。 Through the blending ofthe pervading principles as some abstract union； and by a further blending＇designing＇ the material force （ki） they can gain ＇sound＇ harmony。 Andso the union in harmony gets strong ＇and defences＇。
In other words； living beings can't turntheir backs to the shade ＇such as cooling yin＇ without having the sun ontheir bellies ＇it could be invigorating yang＇； and it's on such （yin…yang）blending of so…called breaths that ＇most＇ harmony depends。
Most people hate to be diagnosed as lonely；unworthy； orphaned； needy； ill…provided。 Yet princes and dukes style themselvesso； and call themselves by these names。
Truly； things are often increased by seekingto diminish them and diminished by seeking to increase them。〃 And sometimesthings are benefited by being taken away from and suffer by being addedto。 And so it often happens that things can gain by losing and lose bygaining。
What others have taught； I teach also：
〃Violent and fierce people hardly die a natural＇elegant＇ death。〃
Yet； show me a man of violence that cameto a good end； and I will take him for my teacher。 I shall make all thisthe father （basis） of my teaching。＇Uha。＇
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The softest things in the world overcomethe hardest things in the world。 The softest substance radiates throughthe hardest。 Also； what's most yielding can eventually overwhelm the hardest。
Formless penetrates no…crevice； substancelessit can enter where there's no space； all this could be not…yet…being enteringand jostling non…space。 That's how I know the value of action that's actionless。Through this I ＇also＇ know the benefit or advantage of taking no action。
There can be ＇sad＇ teaching without words。To teach without words can be best。 Still few can understand such stuff。And there can be solid value in action that's actionless； or the advantageof taking no action。 Yes； the ＇said＇ benefit of taking no action is withoutcompare。 Few can understand it。
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Fame or one's own self； which matters most？Nay； which does one love more？ Which should one love more； fame or one'sown life？
Which is more valuable； one's own life orwealth？ One's own self or things bought； the solid goods； which shouldreally count most？
Which is worse； gain or loss？ Could it beloss （of self） or possession which is the greater evil？ ＇Which gain isthe greater evil here？＇
Therefore： he who loves most spends most。He who has lavish desires could spend extravagantly。
He who hoards much could lose much。 Who hoardsmuch is in for losing heavily if who has hoarded most could suffer theheaviest loss。
The contented man could meet no disgrace；
Who stops in time knows when to stop。 Whostops in time nothing can harm if free from danger he can long endure andfeel forever safe and secure。 He can long endure who stays forever safeand secure …
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What's most perfect ＇ambivalence＇ seems tobe incomplete； ＇its＇ highest perfection is never impaired。 The perfectseems to have something missing； ＇so have something missing＇。 Highest perfectionis like imperfection； but its use is never impaired； nor its utility ＇attimes＇。
What's most full ＇opening＇ seems empty； itsuse will never fail。
The greatest abundance seems meagre indeed；but its use will never fail。
What's most straight seems devious； maybecrooked。
The greatest skills seems to be ＇rustic；＇clumsy。 The greatest cleverness appears like stupidity； ＇（Demon skill seemslike clumsiness。 Apt skill seems clumsy； true cleverness seems clumsy。＇
The greatest ＇harlequin＇ eloquence seemsto stutter or seems like stuttering。
Hasty movement overcomes cold。
Keeping still can overcome heat。 Tranquillityand staying still can overcome heat。
By being greatly still you'll next be fitto rule the world。 Who is calm and quiet becomes the universe deceit。 Byhis limpid calm he all the time puts right everything ＇as universal deceit＇。
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When dao reigns in the kingdom； gallopinghorses are turned back to fertilise certain fields with their manure。 Ifthe world in accord with dao； racing horses are turned back to pull refusecarts。
When the world hardly lives in accord withdao； dao doesn't prevail or win。 Next war horses will be reared even ona sacred hill below the city walls； and blatant cavalry will frolic inthe countryside； driving and riding pestering war horses in suburbs inbetween。 Dao does hardly prevail if war is on in city suburbs。
No lure is greater than to possess what otherswant。
There's no greater guilt than ＇sudden＇ discontent。There's （。。。） greater disaster than greed。＇Eventually＇ there's hardlya greater sin than desire for possession。
No disaster could be greater than ＇。。。＇ tobe content with what one has ＇in dire need and disabling poverty＇。 No presageof ＇airy＇ evil is greater than men wanting to get more。
He who has once known the pure ＇orgasm＇ contentmentthat comes simply through being content ＇at its peak＇； gets rather content…centreda long time after。
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One can know whats happening all over theworld without going out of doors。
One can see the dao of the big wide beyondhere without looking out of ones windows； and see all the ways of that