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Will depend on the space
In the walls that is void。
So advantage is had
From whatever is there；
But usefulness rises
From whatever is not。
12
The five colors darken the eye；
The five sounds will deaden the ear；
The five flavors weary the taste；
Chasing the beasts of the field
Will drive a man mad。
The goods that are hard to procure
Are hobbles that slow walking feet。
So the Wise Man will do What his belly dictates
And never the sight of his eyes。
Thus he will choose this but not that。
13
〃Favor； like disgrace
Brings trouble with it；
High rank； like self；
Involves acute distress。〃
What does that mean； to say
That 〃favor； like disgrace
Brings trouble with it〃？
When favor is bestowed
On one of low degree；
Trouble will come with it。
The loss of favor too
Means trouble for that man。
This； then； is what is meant
By 〃favor； like disgrace
Brings trouble with it。〃
What does it mean； to say
That 〃rank； like self；
Involves acute distress〃？
I suffer most because
Of me and selfishness。
If I were selfless； then
What suffering would I bear？
In governing the world；
Let rule entrusted be
To him who treats his rank
As if it were his soul；
World sovereignty can be
Committed to that man
Who loves all people
As he loves himself。
14
They call it elusive； and say
That one looks
But it never appears。
They say that indeed it is rare；
Since one listens；
But never a sound。
Subtle； they call it； and say
That one grasps it
But never gets hold。
These three complaints amount
To only one； which is
Beyond all resolution。
At rising； it does not illumine；
At setting； no darkness ensues；
It stretches far back
To that nameless estate
Which existed before the creation。
Describe it as form yet unformed；
As shape that is still without shape；
Or say it is vagueness confused：
One meets it and it has no front；
One follows and there is no rear。
If you hold ever fast
To that most ancient Way；
You may govern today。
Call truly that knowledge
Of primal beginnings
The clue to the Way。
15
The excellent masters of old；
Subtle； mysterious； mystic； acute；
Were much too profound for their times。
Since they were not then understood；
It is better to tell how they looked。
Like men crossing streams in the winter；
How cautious！
As if all around there were danger；
How watchful！
As if they were guests on every occasion；
How dignified！
Like ice just beginning to melt；
Self…effacing！
Like a wood…block untouched by a tool；
How sincere！
Like a valley awaiting a guest；
How receptive！
Like a torrent that rushes along；
And so turbid！
Who； running dirty； comes clean like still waters？
Who； being quiet； moves others to fullness of life？
It is he who； embracing the Way； is not greedy；
Who endures wear and tear without needing renewal。
16
Touch ultimate emptiness；
Hold steady and still。
All things work together：
I have watched them reverting；
And have seen how they flourish
And return again； each to his roots。
This； I say； is the stillness：
A retreat to one's roots；
Or better yet； return
To the will of God；
Which is； I say； to constancy。
The knowledge of constancy
I call enlightenment and say
That not to know it
Is blindness that works evil。
But when you know
What eternally is so；
You have stature
And stature means righteousness
And righteousness is kingly
And kingliness divine
And divinity is the Way
Which is final。
Then； though you die；
You shall not perish。
17
As for him who is highest；
The people just know he is there。
His deputy's cherished and praised；
Of the third； they are frightened；
The fourth； they despise and revile。
If you trust people less than enough；
Some of them never trust you。
He is aloof； as if his talk
Were priced beyond the purchasing；
But once his project is contrived；
The folk will want to say of it：
〃Of course！ We did it by ourselves！〃
18
The mighty Way declined among the folk
And then came kindness and morality。
When wisdom and intelligence appeared；
They brought with them a great hypocrisy。
The six relations were no more at peace；
So codes were made to regulate our homes。
The fatherland grew dark； confused by strife：
Official loyalty became the style。
19
Get rid of the wise men！
Put out the professors！
Then people will profit
A hundredfold over。
Away with the kind ones；
Those righteous men too！
And let people return
To the graces of home。
Root out the artisans；
Banish the profiteers！
And bandits and robbers
Will not come to plunder。
But if these three prove not enough
To satisfy the mind and heart；
More relevant； then； let there be
A visible simplicity of life；
Embracing unpretentious ways；
And small self…interest
And poverty of coveting。
20
Be done with rote learning
And its attendant vexations；
For is there distinction
Of a 〃yes〃 from a 〃yea〃
Comparable now to the gulf
Between evil and good？
〃What all men fear； I too must fear〃…
How barren and pointless a thought！
The reveling of multitudes
At the feast of Great Sacrifice；
Or up on the terrace
At carnival in spring；
Leave me； alas； unmoved； alone；
Like a child that has never smiled。
Lazily； I drift
As though I had no home。
All others have enough to spare；
I am the one left out。
I have the mind of a fool；
Muddled and confused！
When common people scintillate
I alone make shadows。
Vulgar folks are sharp and knowing：
Only I am melancholy。
Restless like the ocean；
Blown about； I cannot stop。
Other men can find employment；
But I am stubborn； I am mean。
Alone I am and different；
Because I prize and seek
My sustenance from the Mother！
21
The omnipresent Virtue will take shape
According only to the Way。
The Way itself is like some thing
Seen in a dream； elusive； evading one。
In it are images； elusive； evading one。
In it are things like shadows in twilight。
In it are essences； subtle but real；
Embedded in truth。
From of old until now；
Under names without end；
The First； the Beginning is seen。
How do I know the beginning of all；
What its nature may be？
By these！
22
The crooked shall be made straight
And the rough places plain；
The pools shall be filled
And the worn renewed；
The needy shall receive
And the rich shall be perplexed。
So the