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All things derive from it their being； it createth them； and all comply
with it。 Its work is done； and it proclaimeth it not。 It is the
ornament of all things； yet it claimeth not fief of them； there is
nothing so small that it inhabiteth not； and informeth it。
All things return without knowledge of the Cause thereof； there is
nothing so great that it inhabiteth not； and informeth it。
In this manner also may the Sage perform his Works。 It is by not
thrusting himself forward that he winneth to his success。
35
THE GOOD WILL OF THE TEH
The whole world is drawn to him that hath the likeness of the Tao。
Men flock unto him； and suffer no ill； but gain repose； find
peace； enjoy all ease。
Sweet sounds and cates lure the traveler from his way。 But the Wordof
the Tao； though it appear harsh and insipid； unworthy to hearken orto
behold； hath his use all inexhaustible。
36
THE HIDING OF THE LIGHT
In order to draw breath； first empty the lungs； to weaken another；first
strengthen him； to overthrow another； first exalt him； to despoil
another； first load him with gifts； this is called the Occult Regimen。
The soft conquereth the hard； the weak pulleth down the strong。
The fish that leaveth ocean is lost； the method of government must be
concealed from the people。
37
THE RIGHT USE OF GOVERNMENT
The Tao proceedeth by its own nature； doing nothing； therefore thereis
no doing which it comprehendeth not。
If kings and princes were to govern in this manner； all things would
operate aright by their own motion。
If this transmutation were my object； I should call it Simplicity。
Simplicity hath no name nor purpose； silently and at ease all thingsgo
well。
38
CONCERNING THE THE
Those who possessed perfectly the powers did not manifest them；
and so they preserved them。 Those who possessed them imperfectly feared
to lose them； and so lost them。
The former did nothing； nor had need to do。 The latter did； and had
need to do。
Those who possessed benevolence exercised it； and had need it； so also
was it with them who possessed justice。
Those who possessed the conventions displayed them； and when men would
not agree； they made ready to fight them。
Thus； when the Tao was lost； the Magick Powers appeared； then； by
successive degradations； came Benevolence； Justice； Convention。
Now convention is the shadow of loyalty and good will； and so the herald
of disorder。 Yea； even Understanding is but a Blossom of the Tao； and
foreshadoweth Stupidity。
So then the Tao…Man holdeth to Mass； and avoideth Motion； he is attached
to the Root； not to the flower。 He leaveth the one； and cleaveth tothe
other。
39
THE LAW OF THE BEGINNING
These things have possessed the Tao from the beginning： Heaven； clearand
shining； Earth； steady and easy； Spirits； mighty in Magick；
Vehicles； overflowing with Joy； all that hath life； and the rulersof men。
All these derive their essence from the Tao。
Without the Tao； Heaven would dissolve Earth disrupt； Spirits become
impotent； Vehicles empty； living things would perish and rulers lose
their power。
The root of grandeur is humility； and the strength of exaltation inits
base。 Thus rulers speak of themselves as 'Fatherless；' 'Virtueless；'
'Unworthy；' proclaiming by this that their Glory is in their shame。So
also the virtue of a Chariot is not any of the parts of a Chariot；if they be
numbered。 They do not seek to appear fine like jade； but inconspicuouslike
common stone。
40
OMITTING UTILITY
The Tao proceeds by correlative curves； and its might is in weakness。
All things arose from the Teh； and the Teh budded from the Tao。
41
THE IDENTITY OF THE DIFFERENTIAL
The best students； learning of the Tao； set to work earnestly to practice
the Way。 Mediocre students now cherish it； now let it go。
The worst students mock at it。 Were it not thus mocked； it were unworthy
to be Tao。
Thus spake the makers of Saws： the Tao at its brightest is obscure。Who
advanceth in that Way； retireth。 Its smooth Way is rough。 Its summitis
a valley。 Its beauty is ugliness。 Its wealth is poverty。 Its virtue；
vice。 Its stability is change。 Its form is without form。 Its fullness
is vacancy。 Its utterance is silence。 Its reality is illusion。
Nameless and imperceptible is the Tao； but it informeth and perfecteth
all things。
42
THE VEILS OF THE TAO
The Tao formulated the One。 The One exhaled the Two。
The Two were parents of the Three。 The Three were parents of all things。
All things pass from Obscurity to Manifestation； inspired harmoniouslyby
the Breath of the Void。
Men do not like to be fatherless； virtueless； unworthy： yet rulers
describe themselves by these names。 Thus increase bringeth decreaseto
some； and decrease bringeth increase to others。
Others have taught thus； I consent to it。 Violent men and strong dienot
by natural death。 This fact is the foundation of my law。
43
THE COSMIC METHOD
The softest substance hunteth down the hardest； the unsubstantial
penetrateth where there is no opening。 Here is the Virtue of Inertia。
Few are they who attain： whose speech is Silence； whose Work is Inertia。
44
MONITORIAL
What shall it profit a man if he gain fame or wealth； and lose hislife？
If a man cling to fame or wealth； he risketh what is worth more。
Be content； not fearing disgrace。 Act not； and risk not criticism。 Thus
live thou long； without alarm。
45
THE OVERFLOWING OF THE
Despise thy masterpieces； thus renew the vigor of thy creation。
Deem thy fullness emptiness； thus shall thy fullness never be empty。
Let the straight appear crooked to thee； thy Craft clumsiness； thyMusick
discord。
Exercise moderateth cold； stillness heat。 To be pure and to keep
silence； is the True Law of all that are beneath Heaven。
46
THE WITHDRAWAL FROM AMBITION
When the Tao beareth away on Earth； men put swift horses to night…carts。
When it is neglected； they breed chargers in the border marches。
There is no evil worse than ambition； no misery worse than discontent；no
crime greater than greed。 Content of mind is peace and satisfaction
eternal。
47
THE VISION OF THE DISTANT
One need not pass his threshold to comprehend all that is under Heaven；
nor to look out from his lattice to behold the Tao Celestial。 Nay！but
the farther a man goeth； the less he knoweth。
The sages acquired their knowledge without travel； they named all things
aright without beholding them； and； acting without aim； fulfilled their
Wills。
48
OBLIVION OVERCOMING KNOWLEDGE
The scholar seeketh daily increase of knowing； the sage of Tao daily
decrease of doing。
He de