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This is the subtlety by which the weak overcome the strong；
For fish should not leave their depths；
And soldiers should not leave their camouflage。
37
Quieting the Heart
Tao does not act； yet leaves nothing undone。
If the Self understands this
All the things of the World naturally flourish；
Flourishing； they are constrained by Nature。
Nature does not possess desire；
Without desire； the heart becomes quiet；
And so the whole World may be made tranquil。
38
Religion
The loving do not act。
The kind act without self…interest；
The just act to serve self…interest；
The religious act to reproduce self…interest。
For when Tao is lost； there is love；
When love is lost； there is kindness；
When kindness is lost； there is justice；
And when justice is lost； there is religion。
Well established hierarchies are not easily uprooted；
Closely held beliefs are not easily released；
So religion enthralls generation after generation。
Religion is the end of love and honesty；
The beginning of confusion；
Faith is a colourful hope or fear；
The origin of folly。
The sage goes by knowledge； not by hope；
He dwells in the fruit； not the flower；
He accepts the former； and rejects the latter。
39
Wholeness
In mythical times all things were whole：
All the sky was clear；
All the earth was stable；
Allthe mountains were strong；
All the riverbeds were full；
All of nature was alive；
And all the rulers were supported。
But without clarity； the sky tears；
Without stability； the earth splits；
Without strength； the mountain collapses；
Without water； the riverbed cracks；
Without life； nature is barren；
And without support； the rulers fall。
So rulers depend upon their subjects；
The noble depend upon the humble；
And rulers call themselves orphaned； lonely or disabled；
To win their peoples' support。
Wholeness gains no support。
So there is weakness in power；
And power in weakness；
Rather than tinkle like jade；
One should clatter like stones。
40
Application of Tao
The motion of Tao is to return；
The use of Tao is to accept；
All things are made of Tao；
And Tao is made of nothing。
41
Taoism
When the strong learn Tao； they practice it diligently；
When the average learn Tao； they practice it sometimes；
When the weak learn Tao； they laugh out loud；
Those who do not laugh do not learn at all。
Therefore it is said：
Who understands Tao seems foolish；
Who progresses in Tao seems to fail；
Who follows Tao seems to wander。
So the greatest force appears vulnerable；
The brightest truth appears coloured；
The richest character appears incomplete；
The strongest heart appears meek；
The most beautiful nature appears fickle；
So the square； perfected； has no corner；
Art； perfected； has no meaning；
Sex； perfected； has no climax；
Form； perfected； has no shape。
So Tao can not be sensed or known：
It transmits sensation and transcends knowledge。
42
Harmony
Tao bears love；
Love bears restraint；
Restraint bears acceptance；
Acceptance bears the World；
All things begin with love and end with restraint；
But it is acceptance that brings harmony。
As others teach； I teach；
〃Those without harmony end with violence〃；
This is my teacher。
43
Overcoming the Impossible
The soft overcomes the hard；
The formless penetrates the impenetrable；
Therefore I value taking no action。
Teaching without words；
Work without action；
Are understood by no one。
44
Contentment
Fame or Self： which is dearer？
Self or wealth： which is more valuable？
Profit or loss： which is more painful？
Great love incurs great expense；
And great wealth incurs great theft；
But great contentment incurs no loss。
Therefore：
He who knows when to stop
Does not continue into danger；
And may long endure。
45
Quiet
Great perfection seems imperfect；
But does not decay；
Great abundance seems empty；
But does not fail。
Great truth seems contradictory；
Great cleverness seems stupid；
Great eloquence seems awkward。
Though action overcomes contentment；
Stillness overcomes desire；
So calm and quiet control the World。
46
Desire
When the World is not in accord with Tao；
Horses bear soldiers through the fields；
When the World is in accord with Tao；
Horses bear horseshit through the fields。
There is no greater curse than desire；
There is no greater misery than discontent；
There is no greater ailment than greed；
But one who is content to be content
May always be content。
47
Knowledge and Experience
Without taking a step outdoors
You know the whole World。
Without taking a look out the window
You see the colour of the sky。
The more you experience；
The less you know。
The sage wanders without knowing；
Looks without seeing；
Accomplishes without acting。
48
Knowledge
The follower of knowledge acquires as much as he can every day；
The follower of Tao loses as much as he can every day。
By attrition he reaches a state of inaction
Wherein he does nothing； but leaves nothing undone。
To conquer the World； do nothing；
If you must do something；
The World remains beyond conquest。
49
The Worlds of Others
The sage does not distinguish between Self and World；
Therefore the needs of the people of the World are as his own。
He is good to those who are good；
He is also good to those who are not good；
For love is goodness。
He trusts those who are trustworthy；
He also trusts those who are not trustworthy；
For love is trust。
He is in harmony with the World；
So he nurtures the Worlds of others
As a mother does her children。
50
Life and Death
Death enters life as man enters woman。
The limits of man：
Thirty years of growth；
Thirty years of decay；
Thirty years inbetween；
So death and life reproduce themselves。
He who would prolong his life
Will not meet tigers or rhinoceri in the wilds；
Nor soldiers in battle
So the rhinoceros finds no place in him for its horn；
The tiger no place for its claw；
The soldier no place for a weapon；
So death finds no place to enter his life。
51
Love
Tao bears us；
Love nurtures us；
Nature shapes us；
Circumstance completes us。
We worship Tao and honour love；
For worship of Tao and honour of love
Are performed by being alive。
Tao bears us；
Love nurtures； develops； cares for；
Shelters； comforts； and makes a home for us。
Making without controlling；
Giving without dem