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When there is not Tao in the empire
War horses will be reared even on the sacred mounds below the city walls。
（No lure is greater than to possess what others want；）
No disaster greater than not to be content with what one has；
No presage of evil greater than men should be wanting to get more。
Truly：
揌e who has once known the contentment that comes simply through being content；
Will never again be otherwise than contented？
47
Without leaving his door
He knows everything under heaven。
Without looking out of his window
He knows all the ways of heaven。
For the further one travels
The less one knows。
Therefore the Sage arrives without going；
Sees all without looking；
Does nothing； yet achieves everything。
48
Learning consists in adding to one's stock day by day；
The practice of Tao consists in 搒ubtracting day by day；
Subtracting and yet again subtracting
Till one has reached inactivity。
But by this very inactivity
Everything can be activated。？br》 Those who of old won the adherence of all who live under heaven
All did so not interfering。
Had they interfered；
They would never have won this adherence。
49
The Sage has no heart of his own；
He uses the heart of the people as his heart。
Of the good man I approve；
But of the bad I also approve；
And thus he gets goodness。
The truthful man I believe； but the liar I also believe；
And thus he gets truthfulness。
The Sage； in the dealings with the world； seems like one dazed with fright；
For the world's sake be dulls his wits。
The Hundred Families all the time strain their eyes and ears；
The Sage all the time sees and hears no more than an infant sees and hears。
50
He who aims at life achieves death。
If the 揷ompanions of life？are thirteen；
So likewise are the 揷ompanions of death？thirteen。
How is it that the 揹eath…stops？in man's life
And activity are also thirteen？
It is because men feed life too grossly。
It is said that he who has a true hold on life；
When he walks on land does not meet tigers or wild buffaloes；
In battle he is not touched by weapons of war。
Indeed；
A buffalo that attacked him would find nothing for its horns to butt；
A tiger would find nothing for its claws to tear；
A weapon would find no place for its point to enter in。
And why？
Because such men have no 揹eath…spot？in them。
51
Tao gave them birth；
The 損ower？of Tao reared them；
Shaped them according to their kinds；
Perfected them； giving to each its strength。
Therefore
Of the ten thousand things there is not one that does not worship Tao
And do homage to its 損ower？
No mandate ever went forth that accorded to Tao the right to be worshipped；
Nor to its 損ower？the right to be worshipped；
Nor to its 損ower？the right to receive homage。
It was always and of itself so。
Therefore as Tao bore them and the 損ower？of Tao reared them；
Made them grow； fostered them；
Harboured them；
Brewed for them；
So you must rear them； but not lay claim to them；
Control them； but never lean upon them；
Be chief among them； but not manage them。
This is called the mysterious power。？br》
52
That which was the beginning of all things under heaven
We may speak of as the 搈other？of all things。
He who apprehends the mother
Thereby knows the sons。
And he who has known the sons；
Will hold all the tighter to the mother；
And to the end of his days suffer no harm；
揃lock the passages； shut the doors；
And till the end your strength shall not fail。
Open up the passages； increase your doings；
And till your last day no help shall come to you。？br》 As good sight means seeing what is very small
So strength means holding on to what is weak。
He who having used the outer…light can return to the innerlight
Is thereby preserved from all harm。
This is called resorting to the always…so。
53
He who has the least scrap of sense；
Once he has got started on the great highway has nothing to fear
So long as he avoids turnings。
For great highways are safe and easy。
But men love by…paths。
So long as Court is in order
They are content to let their fields run to weed
And their granaries stand empty。
They wear patterns and embroideries；
Carry sharp swords； glut themselves with drink and food；
Have more possessions than they can use。
These are the riotous ways of brigandage； they are not the Highway。
54
What Tao plants cannot be plucked；
What Tao clasps； cannot slip。
By its virtue alone can one generation after another carry on the ancestrial sacrifice。
Apply it to yourself and by its power you will be freed from dross。
Apply it to your household and your household shall thereby have abundance。
Apply it to the village； and the village will be made secure。
Apply it to the kingdom； and the kingdom shall thereby be made to flourish。
Apply it to an empire； and the empire shall thereby be extended。
Therefore just as through oneself one may contemplate Oneself；
So through the household one may contemplate the Household；
And through the village； one may contemplate the Village；
And through the kingdom； one may contemplate the Kingdom；
And through the empire； one may contemplate the Empire。
How do I know that the empire is so？
By this。
55
The impunity of things fraught with the 損ower？br》 May be likened to that of an infant。
Poisonous insects do not sting it；
Nor fierce beasts seize it；
Nor clawing birds maul it；
Its bones are soft； its sinews weak； but its grip is strong。
Not yet to have known the union of male and female；
But to be completely formed；
Means that the vital force is at its height；
To be able to scream all day without getting hoarse
Means that the harmony is at its perfection。
To understand such harmony is to understand the always so。
To understand the always…so is to be illumined。
But to fill life to the brim is to invite omens。
If the heart makes calls upon the life…breath； rigidity follows。
Whatever has a time of vigour also has a time of decay。
Such things are against Tao；
And whatever is against Tao is soon destroyed。
56
Those who know do not speak；
Those who speak do not know。
Black the passages；
Shut the doors；
Let all sharpness be blunted；
All tangles untied；
All glare tempered。
All dust smoothed。
This is called the mysterious leveling。
He who has achieved it cannot either be drawn into friendship or repelled；
Cannot be benefited； cannot be harmed；
Cannot either be raised or humbled；
And for that very reason is highest of all creatures under heaven。
57
揔ingdoms can only be governed if rules are kept；
Battles can only be won if rules are broken。？br》 But the adherence of al