What is to be weakened
Is first made strong；
What will be thrown over
Is first raised up；
What will be withdrawn
Is first bestowed。
This indeed is
Subtle Light；
The gentle way
Will overcome
The hard and strong。
As fish should not
Get out of pools；
The realm's edged tools
Should not be shown
To anybody。
37
The Way is always still； at rest；
And yet does everything that's done。
If then the king and nobles could
Retain its potency for good；
The creatures all would be transformed。
But if； the change once made in them；
They still inclined to do their work；
I should restrain them then
By means of that unique
Original simplicity
Found in the Virgin Block；
Which brings disinterest；
With stillness in its train；
And so； an ordered world。
38
A man of highest virtue
Will not display it as his own；
His virtue then is real。
Low virtue makes one miss no chance
To show his virtue off；
His virtue then is naught。
High virtue is at rest；
It knows no need to act。
Low virtue is a busyness
Pretending to accomplishment。
Compassion at its best
Consists in honest deeds；
Morality at best
Is something done； aforethought；
High etiquette； when acted out
Without response from others；
Constrains a man to bare his arms
And make them do their duty！
Truly； once the Way is lost；
There comes then virtue；
Virtue lost； comes then compassion；
After that morality；
And when that's lost； there's etiquette；
The husk of all good faith；
The rising point of anarchy。
Foreknowledge is； they say；
The Doctrine come to flower；
But better yet； it is
The starting point of silliness。
So once full…grown； a man will take
The meat and not the husk；
The fruit and not the flower。
Rejecting one； he takes the other。
39
These things in ancient times received the One：
The sky obtained it and was clarified；
The earth received it and was settled firm；
The spirits got it and were energized；
The valleys had it； filled to overflow；
All things； as they partook it came alive；
The nobles and the king imbibed the One
In order that the realm might upright be；
Such things were then accomplished by the One。
Without its clarity the sky might break；
Except it were set firm； the earth might shake；
Without their energy the gods would pass；
Unless kept full； the valleys might go dry；
Except for life； all things would pass away；
Unless the One did lift and hold them high；
The nobles and the king might trip and fall。
The humble folk support the mighty ones；
They are base on which the highest rest。
The nobles and the king speak of themselves
As 〃orphans；〃 〃desolate〃 and 〃needy ones。〃
Does this not indicate that they depend
Upon the lowly people for support？
Truly a cart is more than the sum of its parts。
Better to rumble like rocks
Than to tinkle like jade。
40
The movement of the Way is a return；
In weakness lies its major usefulness。
From What…is all the world of things was born
But What…is sprang in turn from What…is…not。
41
On hearing of the Way； the best of men
Will earnestly explore its length。
The mediocre person learns of it
And takes it up and sets it down。
But vulgar people； when they hear the news；
Will laugh out loud； and if they did not laugh；
It would not be the Way。
And so there is a proverb：
〃When going looks like coming back；
The clearest road is mighty dark。〃
Today； the Way that's plain looks rough；
And lofty virtue like a chasm；
The purest innocence like shame；
The broadest power not enough；
Established goodness knavery；
Substantial worth like shifting tides。
Great space has no corners；
Great powers come late；
Great music is soft sound；
The great Form no shape。
The Way is obscure and unnamed；
It is a skilled investor； nonetheless；
The master of accomplishment。
42
The Way begot one；
And the one； two；
Then the two begot three
And three； all else。
All things bear the shade on their backs
And the sun in their arms；
By the blending of breath
From the sun and the shade；
Equilibrium comes to the world。
Orphaned； or needy； or desolate； these
Are conditions much feared and disliked；
Yet in public address； the king
And the nobles account themselves thus。
So a loss sometimes benefits one
Or a benefit proves to be loss。
What others have taught
I also shall teach：
If a violent man does not come
To a violent death；
I shall choose him to teach me。
43
The softest of stuff in the world
Penetrates quickly the hardest；
Insubstantial； it enters
Where no room is。
By this I know the benefit
Of something done by quiet being；
In all the world but few can know
Accomplishment apart from work；
Instruction when no words are used。
44
Which is dearer； fame or self？
Which is worth more； man or pelf？
Which would hurt more； gain or loss？
The mean man pays the highest price；
The hoarder takes the greatest loss；
A man content is never shamed；
And self…restrained； is not in danger：
He will live forever。
45
Most perfect； yet it seems
Imperfect； incomplete：
Its use is not impaired。
Filled up； and yet it seems
Poured out； an empty void：
It never will run dry。
The straightest； yet it seems
To deviate； to bend；
The highest skill and yet
It looks like clumsiness。
The utmost eloquence；
It sounds like stammering。
As movement overcomes
The cold； and stillness； heat；
The Wise Man； pure and still；
Will rectify the world。
46
When the Way rules the world；
Coach horses fertilize the fields；
When the Way does not rule；
War horses breed in the parks。
No sin can exceed
Incitement to envy；
No calamity's worse
Than to be discontented；
Nor is there an omen
More dreadful than coveting。
But once be contented；
And truly you'll always be so。
47
The world may be known
Without leaving the house；
The Way may be seen
Apart from the windows。
The further you go；
The less you will know。
Accordingly； the Wise Man
Knows without going；
Sees without seeing；
Does without doing。
48
The student learns by daily increment。
The Way is gained by daily loss；
Loss upon loss until
At last comes rest。
By letting go； it all gets done；
The world is won by those who let it go！
But when you try and try；
The world is then beyond the winning。
49
The Wise Man's mind is free
But tuned to people's need：
〃Alike to be good and bad
I must be good；
For Virtue is goodness。
To honest folk
And those dishonest ones
Alike； I proffer faith；
For Virtue is faithful。〃
The Wise Man； when abroad；
Impartial to the world；
Does not divide or judge。
But people everywhere
Mark well his ears and eyes；
For wise men hear and see
As little children do。
50
On leaving life； to enter death：
Thirteen members form a living body；
A corpse has thirteen； too：
Thirteen spots by which a man may pass
From life to death。 Why so？
Because his way of life
Is much too gross。
As I have heard； the man who knows
On land how best to be at peace
Will never meet a tiger or a buffalo；
In battle； weapons do not touch his skin。
There is no place the tiger's claws can grip；
Or with his horn； the buffalo can jab；
Or where the soldier can insert his sword。
Why so？ In him there is no place of death。
51
The Way brings forth；
Its virtue fosters them；
With matter they take shape；
And circumstance perfects them all：
That is why all things
Do honor the Way
And venerate its power。
The exaltation of the Way；
The veneration of its power；
Come not by fate or decree；
But always just because
By nature it is so。
So when the Way brings forth；
Its power fosters all：
They grow； are reared；
And fed and housed until
They come to ripe maturity。
You shall give life to things
But never possess them；
Your work shall depend on none；
You shall be chief but never lord。
This describes the mystic power。
？br》 ？br》
52
It began with a matrix：
The world had a mother
Whose sons can be known
As ever； by her。
But if you know them；
You'll keep close to her
As long as you live
And suffer no harm。
Stop up your senses；
Close up your doors；
Be not exhausted
As long as you live。
Open your senses；
Be busier still：
To the end of your days
There's no help for you。
You are bright； it is said；
If you see what is small；
A store of small strengths
Makes you strong。
By the use of its light；
Make your eyes again bright
From evil to lead you away。
This is called 〃practicing constancy。〃
53
When I am walking on the mighty Way；
Let me but know the very least I may；
And I shall only fear to leave the road。
The mighty Way is easy underfoot；
But people still prefer the little paths。
The royal court is dignified； sedate；
While farmers' fields are overgrown with weeds；
The granaries are empty and yet they
Are clad in rich…embroidered silken gowns。
They have sharp swords suspended at their sides；
With glutted wealth； they gorge with food and drink。
It is； the people say；
The boastfulness of brigandage；
But surely not the Way！
54
Set firm in the Way： none