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He walks fast who has an object。
He who fills his place remains secure。
He who dies without being corrupted enjoys a good old age。
34
Mighty Tao is all pervading。
It is simultaneously on this side and on that。
All living things subsist from it； and all are in its care。
It works； it finishes； and knows not the name of merit。
In love it nurtures all things； and claims no excellence therein。
It knows neither ambition nor desire。
It can be classed with the humblest of things。
All things finally revert to it； and it is not thereby increased。
It can be mentioned with the greatest of things。
Thus does the wise man continually refrain from self…distinction。
35
Attain to the Great Idea； and all the world will flock to you。
It will flock to you and will not be hurt therein； for it will rest in a wonderful peace。
Where there is a festival the wayfarer will stay。
To the palate the Tao is insipid and tasteless。
In regarding it the eye is not impressed。
In listening to it the ear is not filled。
But in its uses it is inexhaustible。
36
When Nature is about to withhold a thing it is sure first to increase it。
When about to weaken it is first sure to strengthen。
When about to debase it is certain first to exalt。
When about to deprive it is first sure to give。
This is what I call the covert agreement。
The soft and the weak overcome the hard and the strong。
As a fish out of water is in danger； so a nation is in peril when its armaments are revealed to the people。
37
Tao remains quiescent； and yet leaves nothing undone。
If a ruler or a king could hold it； all things would of their own accord assume the desired shape。
If in the process of transformation desire should arise； I would check it by the ineffable simplicity。
The ineffable simplicity would bring about an absence of desire； and rest would come back again。
Thus the world would regenerate itself。
38
The superior virtue is not recognized as such； and it is therefore the very essence of virtue。
The inferior virtue has the distinction of virtue； therefore it lacks the essence。
The superior virtue is spontaneous； and makes no claim to merit。
The inferior virtue is designing； and lays claim to recognition。
The higher benevolence acts without pretension to merit。
The inferior justice acts； and also makes pretensions。
The inferior expediency is designing； and therefore no one honours it。
Therefore does it bare its arm and assert itself by force。
Thus it transpires that when virtue is lost； benevolence takes its place。
When benevolence is lost； justice ensues。
When justice is lost； then expediency follows。
But expediency is the mere shadow of what is right and true； and it is portentous of confusion。
Superficial virtue is the mere tinsel of Tao； and the fool makes use of it。
But the truly great man establishes himself on that which is solid； and will not lean upon a shadow。
He keeps to the real； and avoids display。
He rejects the one； and takes the other with both hands。
39
Certain things have； by unity； lasted from most ancient times； namely：…
The transparency of Heaven；
The steadfastness of Earth；
The incorporeality of spirits；
The watery plenitude of valleys；
The life of all creations；
The government of kings and princes；
All these endure by unity。
But for the cause of its transparency Heaven would be in danger of obscuration。
But for the cause of its steadfastness the Earth would be in danger of disintegration。
But for the cause of their incorporeality spirits would be in danger of decease。
But for the cause of their plenitude the valleys would be in danger of sterility。
But for the cause of their vitality all creation would be in danger of destruction。
But for the cause of their honour and greatness princes and kings would be in danger of an overthrow。
Herein we see how honour is derived from that which is without distinction； and how greatness rests upon； and is sustained by； that which is insignificant。
Hence do princes and kings call themselves 〃orphans；〃 〃solitary men；〃 and 〃chariots without wheels。〃
Do they not thereby acknowledge their authority to be vested in； and supported by； their superiors？
Who can deny it？
Surely 〃a chariot without wheels〃 is no chariot at all！
It is as hard for a man to be isolated like a single gem as to be lost in the crowd like a common pebble。
40
The path of the Tao is backward。
The characteristic of Tao is gentleness。
Everything in the universe comes from existence； and existence from non…existence。
41
When a wise man hears the Tao； he follows it。
When one of average mind hears it； he holds to it a while and presently loses it。
When a foolish man hears it； he only laughs at it。
If it were not held in derision by such men； it could not rightly be called Tao。
Therefore； as the verse…makers would say：…
Who shines with Tao is lost in shade；
His path in Tao is retrograde；
And all his actions are obscure。
The highest virtue has no name；
The greatest pureness seems but shame；
True wisdom seems the least secure。
Inherent goodness seems most strange；
What most endures is changeless Change；
And squareness doth no angles make。
The largest vessel none can gird； The loudest voice was never heard；
The greatest thing no form doth take。
For Tao is hidden； and it has no name； but it is good at beginning and finishing。
42
Tao emaned the One； the one emaned the Two； and the two emaned the Three。
From the Three all things have proceeded。
All things are backed by the Unmanifest and faced by the Manifest。
That which unites them is the immaterial breath。
Orphanage； isolation； and a chariot without wheels are shunned by the people； but kings and great men appropriate these names to themselves。
For things increase by being deprived； and being added to they are diminished。
That which people teach by their actions I make use of to instruct them。
Those who are violent and headstrong； for example； do not die a natural death。
They teach a good lesson； and so I make use of them。
43
The gentlest thing in the world will override the strongest。
The Non…Existent pervades everything； though there be no inlet。
By this I comprehend how effectual is non…action。
To teach without words and to be useful without action； few among men are capable of this。
44
Which is neared to you； your name or your person？
Which is more precious； your person or your wealth？
Which is the greater evil； to gain or to lose？
Great devotion requires great sacrifice。
Great wealth implies great loss。
He who is content can never be ruined。
He who stands still will never meet danger。
These are the people who endure。
45
He who sees that his highest attainments are always incomplete may go