按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Prominence regards the humble as basis
This is why leaders & sovereigns refer to themselves
as orphaned & friendless； without worth
Does this not regard the common as root？
Not so？
Just as obtaining tallies of chariots
will not be （real） chariots
Do not long to dazzle & jingle like jade
Clunk & clatter like rocks
40
Reversal is the movement of the way
Yielding is the method of the way
The myriad beings in nature arose out of being
Being arose out of nothing
41
Superior students； hearing of the way；
Are diligent and practice it
Average students； hearing of the way；
Sometimes attend & sometimes forget
Inferior students； hearing of the way；
Laugh greatly about it
Without the laughter there would be no grounds
to regard this as the way
And so the established proverbs hold that：
Brightness； to the way； is as good as darkness
Advance； to the way； is as good as retreat
Evenness； to the way； is as good as roughness
The summit of character is as good as a valley
The greatest whiteness is as good as soiled
Abundant character seems inadequate
Established character seems furtive
The evident truth seems spurious
The greatest square has no corner
The greatest capacity is last to be realized
The greatest note is the rarest sound
The greatest image has no form
The way is hidden & nameless
（But） because way is good at acceptance
（it is） also fulfilling
42
The way begets the one
The one begets the two
The two beget the three
The three beget the myriad beings
The myriad beings carry the shadow and embrace the light
Mixing the breaths with harmonious action
People have their reasons to truly dislike being
揙rphaned & friendless； without worth？br》 Yet sovereign & duke take （these） as titles
Since beings may sometimes lose something； and yet benefit
May sometimes gain something； and yet be diminished
What someone else has taught
I too come to teach：
Those who are forceful & hostile
do not meet their （natural） ends
I will regard （this） as a premise of the teaching
43
Nature at its most yielding
Quickly overcomes nature at its most firm
Non…being enters （where） there is no gap
This is how we know （that） inaction
comes to have such advantages
The doctrine which has no words
The benefits of taking no action …
Few in the world attain these
44
Reputation compared to life； which is dearer？
Life compared to property； which is （worth） more？
Gain compared to loss； which is （more） distressing？
It is a given that extreme affection
Entails great cost
Much stored up entails heavy loss
To understand sufficiency is no disgrace
To understand restraint avoids limits …
（This is） the right way to live long
45
A great achievement （may） seem deficient
But its function is not impaired
A great fulfillment （may） seem empty
But its function is not diminished
Great straightforwardness （might） seem compromised
Great artfulness （might） seem clumsy
Great eloquence （might） seem to stammer
Restlessness overcomes cold
Stillness overcomes heat
Clarity & stillness act as measures to the world
46
When the world holds to the way
Retired racehorses are useful for manure
When the world loses the way
War horses breed throughout the frontier
There is no vice greater than submitting to greed
No suffering greater than never knowing sufficiency
No error greater than the hunger for gain
So to know that sufficiency is in itself sufficient
Is a truly durable sufficiency
47
Without going out the door
Comprehend （all） under heaven
Without peering out the window
Observe the way of heaven
The farther beyond one goes
One抯 comprehension is by that much diminished
This is why wise ones （might） not move about； but still know
（Might） not witness； but still describe
（Might） not act； but still accomplish
48
The pursuit of learning （means） increasing daily
The pursuit of the way （means） decreasing daily
Decreasing things and then subtracting
In order to arrive at not doing
（When） nothing is done； then nothing remains undone
To capture the world； always apply the least effort
As soon as one has to make effort
（One is） no longer adequate to the purpose
of capturing the world
49
Wise ones have no set mind
Regarding the hundred families？minds as 搈ind？br》 To those who are good we have good to extend
To those who are less than good we also have good to extend
To merit goodness
To those who are true we have truth to extend
To those who are less than true we also have truth to extend
To merit truth
Wise ones are in the world
Uniting； connecting； adopting the world
Merging with their hearts
The hundred families； as one； pay heed；
with their 揾earkening？& 揵eholding？br》 The wise ones； as one； come to laugh like children
50
Emerging in life （or） entering death
The companions of life will be three （in） ten
The companions of death will be three （in） ten
And others whose lives & actions approach the domain of death
Will also be three （in） ten
Now why is this so？
Because these live life for its substance
Now hear of the one adept at sustaining life
Traveling the countryside； not meeting buffalo or tiger
Entering a battle； not carrying armor or weapons …
The buffalo finds no place to thrust its horns
The tiger finds no place to sink its claws
The weapon finds no place to admit its blade
Now why is this so？
Because in this one there is no place for death
51
The way gives things life
Character raises them
Existence shapes them
Conditions complete them
So it is that the myriad beings； without exception；
Ennoble the way and honor character
The way will be ennobled
Character will be honored
But nobody has to command this
as it always proceeds out of nature
In this way the way gives things life
Character raises them
Sustains them； brings them up
Shelters them； heals them
Nurtures them； protects them
Creates but does not possess
Acts but does not expect
Leads but does not rule
These may be called 搈ystic powers？br》
52
The world had a beginning
Regarded as mother to the world
Having found this mother
Through this comprehend her children
Having comprehended her children
Return & attend to the mother
The death of self is nothing to fear
Close the passages
Secure the gates
（And） the rest of life is no trouble
Open the passages
Conclude the affairs
（And） the rest of life finds no salvation
To perceive in detail tells of clarity
To maintain flexibility tells of strength
Make use of what is illuminated