Though all things flourish with a myriad of variations；
Each one will eventually return to its roots。
This return to its root means 〃tranquility；〃
It is called 〃returning to its destiny。〃
〃To return to its destiny〃 is called 〃the eternal；〃
To know 〃the eternal〃 is called 〃enlightenment。〃
Not to know 〃the eternal〃 and to act blindly （will necessarily） result in disaster。
Only knowing 〃the eternal〃 can one embrace all；
Only embracing all can one be impartial。
Being impartial means you can be all…encompassing under Heaven；
By being all…encompassing under Heaven； you can be one with Nature。
Being one with Nature is in accord with Tao；
Being in accord with Tao is everlasting；
And so you can be free from danger throughout your life。
17
The best rulers are those about whom people know nothing but their existence。
The next best are those whom people love and praise；
The next best are those whom people fear；
The next are those whom people despise。
Only when one is not faithworthy； will faithless events take place！
So idle； （the best rulers） seldom issue any orders。
When some affairs are accomplished；
All common people will say 〃We are in ourselves。〃
18
When the Great Tao is abandoned；
The doctrines of benevolence and righteousness will come to light。
When knowledge and wisdom appear；
Great hypocrisy will also emerge。
When a family falls into dispute；
Filial piety and parental affection to children will be advocated。
When a country falls into disorder；
There will be loyal ministers。
19
Only when sageness and wisdom are discarded； can the people benefit；
Only when benevolence and righteousness are discarded； can the people return to filial piety and parental affection；
Only when skill and profit are discarded； can there be thieves and robbers no more。
These three （negative principles） are； however inadequate as a doctrine。
Therefore （as a positive instruction） we shall put people's understanding under this （guidance）：
Manifest plainness； embrace simplicity； reduce selfishness； and hold few desires。
20
Abandon learning and there will be no sorrow。
How much difference is there between approval and denouncement？
How much difference is there between good and evil？
What others fear cannot but be feared。
It has been so from times of old and the practice doesn't seem to end。
The multitude are so merry； as though going for a great banquet or ascending a height with a broad view in springtime。
I alone am indifferent； with no concern； like an infant that cannot laugh； wearied； indeed； as if I have no home to go to。
The multitude all have more than enough；
I alone seem to lack everything。
My mind is that of a stupid man totally in a muddle。
Common people are so brilliant；
I alone seem to be in the dark。
Common people are so demanding；
I alone seem to be tolerant： so broad and as the boundless sea； so vigorous as the untiring blowing wind。
The multitude have their ability；
I alone seem to be clumsy and incapable。
I alone differ from others； essentially because I have acquired Tao。
21
The content of the great 〃De〃 （Virtue） is in conformity with Tao。
The thing that is called Tao has no definite form。
So vague and elusive is it；
Yet in it the real exists。
So profound and obscure is it；
Yet in it the subtle essence was contained。
The essence is very concrete； and very real。
From the old time till now； its name stands unworn； by which we may know the beginnings of all things。
How do I know their beginnings？
Only by this （nature of Tao）。
22
To yield is yet to be preserved wholly；
To be bent is yet to become straight；
To be hollow is yet to be filled up；
To be worn out is yet to be renewed；
To have little （knowledge） is yet to gain；
To have much （knowledge） is yet to be perplexed。
There the sage takes Tao （the One） as the instrument to observe destiny under Heaven。
He does not merely rely on his own eyes；
Therefore he is wise and penetrating；
He does not consider himself always in the right；
Therefore he is able to tell right from wrong；
He does not boast of himself；
Therefore he is given credit；
He does not think himself superior；
Therefore he is qualified for leadership。
It is precisely because he does not compete that nobody under Heaven could compete with him。
How could such old sayings be false as 〃to yield is yet to be preserved wholly〃？
Truly they will preserve people well。
23
Saying few words fits in with Nature。
Therefore a whirlwind does not last a whole morning；
Nor does a rainstorm last a whole day。
Whoever makes them like this？
It is Heaven and Earth。
If （the fierce force of） Heaven and Earth cannot last long；
How much less man？
Therefore he who follows Tao （should know：）
The seeker of Tao is identified with Tao。
The seeker of De is identified with De；
He who seeks the loss （of Tao） is identified with loss。
He who is identified with Tao …
Tao is also happy to have him。
He who is identified with De …
De is also happy to have him。
He who is identified with the loss …
The loss is also happy to have him。
Only when one has no faith will faithless events take place。
24
He who wants to stand higher on tiptoe is not steady；
He who wants to double his step is unable to hasten；
He who only rests on his own eyes cannot see clearly；
He who considers himself always in the right cannot tell right from wrong；
He who boasts himself will be given no credit；
He who considers himself superior is not qualified for leadership。
From the point of Tao； （all these） are nothing but remnants of food and tumours of action； which all creatures detest。
Therefore those who possess Tao will stay away from them。
25
There was something undifferentiated and yet complete； which existed before Heaven and Earth。
Soundless and formless； it depends upon nothing external； operating in a circular motion ceaselessly。
It may be considered the root （Mother） of all beings under Heaven。
I don't know its name；
And call it Tao。
Inadequately giving it another name； I call it great。
The Great moves on；
The moving…on become remote；
The remote returns to the original point。
Therefore the Tao is great；
Heaven is great；
Earth is great；
And Man is also great。
There are four great things in the universe；
And Man is one of them。
Man follows the way of Earth；
Earth follows the way of Heaven；
Heaven follow the way of Tao；
Tao follows the way of itself。
26
The heavy is the root of the light；
The tranquil is the master of the hasty；
Therefore the sage travels all day； without leaving his baggage wagon。
Although enjoying a magnificent and comfortable life； he does not indulge himself in it。
How is it that a lord of ten thousand chariots belittles his own importance under Heaven？
Lightness necessarily leads to the loss of Root；
Hastiness necessarily results in the loss of mastery。
27
One who is skilled at travelling leaves no traces of his wheels or footsteps；
One who is skilled at speaking says nothing that can be found fault with；
One who is skilled at counting uses no tallies；
One who is skilled as closing needs no bolts； while it is impossible to open what he has shut。
One who is skilled at binding has no strings； while it is impossible to undo what he has bound。
Therefore the sage is always skillful at saving men；
And so no man is uselessly cast away。
This is called the hidden wisdom。
Therefore the good man is the teacher of the bad；
And the bad man is the material from which the good man learns。
He who does not honour his teacher and who does not greatly care for the material is greatly confused though he thinks himself wise。
Such is called yao…miao （subtle）。
28
He who knows the masculine but keeps to the feminine； is ready to be the ravine under Heaven。
Being the ravine under Heaven； he is not parted from constant 〃De〃 （Virtue）；
He returns to the simple state； like an infant。
He who knows the white （glory） but keeps to the black （obscure）； is ready to be the （divination） instrument of under Heaven。
Being the instrument of under Heaven； he rests upon constant 〃De；〃
He returns to the ultimate truth。
He who knows glory but keeps to disgrace； is ready to be the valley under Heaven。
Being the valley under Heaven； he will have plenty of the eternal 〃De；〃
He returns to simplicity。
When the simplicity is broken up； it is turned into concrete vessels。
By using the breaking up of simplicity； the sage sets up government and leadership。
Therefore the perfect government does not arise out of artificiality。
29
He who desires to govern under Heaven and build up achievements will not succeed； which I assert。
〃The under Heaven〃 which is a queer thing； cannot be handled arbitrarily。
He who acts arbitrarily will harm it；
He who holds on to it will lose it。
Therefore of all creatures （in themselves） some lead and some follow； some breathe and some blow； some are strong and some weak； some are baffled and some destroyed。
For this reason； the sage should discard the extremes； the extravagant and the excessive。
30
He who assists the rulers with Tao does not dominate under Heaven by force。
The use of force will soon incur requital。
Wherever armies are stationed； briers and thorns grow wild。
Great wars are always followed by famines。
Content yourself with your success and stop。
Do not seek to dominate under Heaven by force of arms。
Succeed but don't boast about it；
Succeed but don't brag about it；
Succeed but don't be arrogant；
Succeed and take it as you have to；