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If a ruler can cling to it；
All things will grow of themselves。
When they have grown and tend to make a stir；
It is time to keep them in their place by the aid of the nameless Primal Simplicity；
Which alone can curb the desires of men。
When the desires of men are curbed； there will be peace；
And the world will settle down of its own accord。
38
HIGH Virtue is non…virtuous；
Therefore it has Virtue。
Low Virtue never frees itself from virtuousness；
Therefore it has no Virtue。
High Virtue makes no fuss and has no private ends to serve：
Low Virtue not only fusses but has private ends to serve。
High humanity fusses but has no private ends to serve：
High morality not only fusses but has private ends to serve。
High ceremony fusses but finds no response；
Then it tries to enforce itself with rolled…up sleeves。
Failing Tao； man resorts to Virtue。
Failing Virtue； man resorts to humanity。
Failing humanity； man resorts to morality。
Failing morality； man resorts to ceremony。
Now； ceremony is the merest husk of faith and loyalty；
It is the beginning of all confusion and disorder。
As to foreknowledge； it is only the flower of Tao；
And the beginning of folly。
Therefore； the full…grown man sets his heart upon the substance rather than the husk；
Upon the fruit rather than the flower。
Truly； he prefers what is within to what is without。
39
FROM of old there are not lacking things that have attained Oneness。
The sky attained Oneness and became clear；
The earth attained Oneness and became calm；
The spirits attained Oneness and became charged with mystical powers；
The fountains attained Oneness and became full；
The ten thousand creatures attained Oneness and became reproductive；
Barons and princes attained Oneness and became sovereign rulers of the world。
All of them are what they are by virtue of Oneness。
If the sky were not clear； it would be likely to fall to pieces；
If the earth were not calm； it would be likely to burst into bits；
If the spirits were not charged with mystical powers； they would be likely to cease from being；
If the fountains were not full； they would be likely to dry up；
If the ten thousand creatures were not reproductive； they would be likely to come to extinction；
If the barons and princes were not the sovereign rulers； they would be likely to stumble and fall。
Truly； humility is the root from which greatness springs；
And the high must be built upon the foundation of the low。
That is why barons and princes style themselves 〃The Helpless One；〃 〃The Little One；〃 and 〃The Worthless One。〃
40
THE movement of the Tao consists in Returning。
The use of the Tao consists in softness。
All things under heaven are born of the corporeal：
The corporeal is born of the Incorporeal。
41
WHEN a wise scholar hears the Tao；
He practises it diligently。
When a mediocre scholar hears the Tao；
He wavers between belief and unbelief。
When a worthless scholar hears the Tao；
He laughs boisterously at it。
But if such a one does not laugh at it；
The Tao would not be the Tao！
The wise men of old have truly said：
？The bright Way looks dim。
The progressive Way looks retrograde。
The smooth Way looks rugged。
High Virtue looks like an abyss。
Great whiteness looks spotted。
Abundant Virtue looks deficient。
Established Virtue looks shabby。
Solid Virtue looks as though melted。
Great squareness has no corners。
Great talents ripen late。
Great sound is silent。
Great Form is shapeless。
The Tao is hidden and nameless；
Yet it alone knows how to render help and to fulfill。
42
TAO gave birth to One；
One gave birth to Two；
Two gave birth to Three；
Three gave birth to all the myriad things。
All the myriad things carry the Yin on their backs and hold the Yang in their embrace；
Deriving their vital harmony from the proper blending of the two vital Breaths。
What is more loathed by men than to be 〃helpless；〃 〃little；〃 and 〃worthless〃？
And yet these are the very names the princes and barons call themselves。
Truly； one may gain by losing；
And one may lose by gaining。
What another has taught let me repeat：
〃A man of violence will come to a violent end。〃
Whoever said this can be my teacher and my father。
43
THE softest of all things
Overrides the hardest of all things。
Only Nothing can enter into no…space。
Hence I know the advantages of Non…Ado。
Few things under heaven are as instructive as the lessons of Silence；
Or as beneficial as the fruits of Non…Ado。
44
As for your name and your body； which is the dearer？
As for your body and your wealth； which is the more to be prized？
As for gain and loss； which is the more painful？
Thus； an excessive love for anything will cost you dear in the end。
The storing up of too much goods will entail a heavy loss。
To know when you have enough is to be immune from disgrace。
To know when to stop is to be preserved from perils。
Only thus can you endure long。
45
THE greatest perfection seems imperfect；
And yet its use is inexhaustible。
The greatest fullness seems empty；
And yet its use is endless。
The greatest straightness looks like crookedness。
The greatest skill appears clumsy。
The greatest eloquence sounds like stammering。
Restlessness overcomes cold；
But calm overcomes heat。
The peaceful and serene
Is the Norm of the World。
46
WHEN the world is in possession of the Tao；
The galloping horses are led to fertilize the fields with their droppings。
When the world has become Taoless；
War horses breed themselves on the suburbs。
There is no calamity like not knowing what is enough。
There is no evil like covetousness。
Only he who knows what is enough will always have enough。
47
WITHOUT going out of your door；
You can know the ways of the world。
Without peeping through your window；
You can see the Way of Heaven。
The farther you go；
The less you know。
Thus； the Sage knows without travelling；
Sees vithout looking；
And achieves without Ado。
48
LEARNING consists in daily accumulating；
The practice of Tao consists in daily diminishing。
Keep on diminishing and diminishing；
Until you reach the state of Non…Ado。
No…Ado； and yet nothing is left undone。
To win the world； one must renounce all。
If one still has private ends to serve；
One will never be able to win the world。
49
THE Sage has no interests of his own；
But takes the interests of the people as his own。
He is kind to the kind；
He is also kind to the unkind：
For Virtue is kind。
He is faithful to the faithful；
He is also faithful to the unfaithful：
For Virtue is fai