on　hat　makes　it　answer　the　ends　of　a　carriage。　They　do　notwish　to　show　themselves　elegant…looking　as　jade；　but　（prefer）　to　be　coarse…lookingas　an　（ordinary）　stone。？br》
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  The　movement　of　the　Tao　By　contraries　proceeds；
  And　weakness　marks　the　course　of　Tao's　mighty　deeds。
  All　things　under　heaven　sprang　from　it　as　existing　（and　named）；　thatexistence　sprang　from
  It　as　non…existent　（and　not　named）。？br》
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  Scholars　of　the　highest　class；　when　they　hear　about　the　Tao；　earnestlycarry　it　into　practice。　Scholars　of　the　middle　class；　when　they　have　heardabout　it；　seem　now　to　keep　it　and　now　to　lose　it。　Scholars　of　the　lowestclass；　when　they　have　heard　about　it；　laugh　greatly　at　it。　If　it　were　not（thus）　laughed　at；　it　would　not　be　fit　to　be　the　Tao。　Therefore　the　sentencemakers　have　thus　expressed　themselves：…
  'The　Tao；　when　brightest　seen；　seems　light　to　lack：　Who　progress　init　makes；　seems　drawing　back；　Its　even　way　is　like　a　rugged　track。　Itshighest　virtue　from　the　vale　doth　rise；　Its　greatest　beauty　seems　to　offendthe　eyes；　And　he　has　most　whose　lot　the　least　supplies。　Its　firmest　virtueseems　but　poor　and　low；　Its　solid　truth　seems　change　to　undergo；　Its　largestsquare　doth　yet　no　corner　show；　A　vessel　great；　it　is　the　slowest　made；Loud　is　its　sound；　but　never　word　it　said；　A　semblance　great；　the　shadowof　a　shade。'
  The　tao　is　hidden；　and　has　no　name；　but　it　is　the　Tao　which　is　skilfulat　imparting　（to　all　things　what　they　need）　and　making　them　complete。？br》
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  The　Tao　produced　One；　One　produced　Two；　Two　produced　Three；　Three　producedall　things。　All　things　leave　behind　them　the　obscurity　（out　of　which　theyhave　come）；　and　go　forward　to　embrace　the　Brightness　（into　which　they　haveemerged）；　while　they　are　harmonised　by　the　Breath　of　Vacancy。　What　mendislike　is　to　be　orphans；　to　have　little　virtue；　to　be　as　carriages　withoutnaves；　and　yet　these　are　the　designations　which　kings　and　princes　use　forthemselves。　So　it　is　that　some　things　are　increased　by　being　diminished；and　others　are　diminished　by　being　increased。　What　other　men　（thus）　teach；I　also　teach。　The　violent　and　strong　do　not　die　their　natural　death。　Iwill　make　this　the　basis　of　my　teaching。？br》
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  The　softest　thing　in　the　world　dashes　against　and　overcomes　the　hardest；that　which　has　no　（substantial）　existence　enters　where　there　is　no　crevice。I　know　hereby　what　advantage　belongs　to　doing　nothing　（with　a　purpose）。There　are　few　in　the　world　who　attain　to　the　teaching　without　words；　andthe　advantage　arising　from　non…action。？br》
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  Or　fame　of　life；　Which　do　you　hold　more　dear？　Or　life　or　wealth；　Towhich　would　you　adhere？　Keep　life　and　lose　those　other　things；　Keep　themand　lose　your　life：…which　brings　Sorrow　and　pain　more　near？　Thus　we　maysee；　Who　cleaves　to　fame　Rejects　what　is　more　great；　Who　loves　large　storesGives　up　the　richer　state。　Who　is　content　Needs　fear　no　shame。　Who　knowsto　stop　Incurs　no　blame。　From　danger　free　Long　live　shall　he。？br》
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  Who　thinks　his　great　achievements　poor　Shall　find　his　vigour　long　endure。Of　greatest　fullness；　deemed　a　void；　Exhaustion　ne'er　shall　stem　the　tide。Do　thou　what's　straight　still　crooked　deem；　Thy　greatest　art　still　stupidseem；　And　eloquence　a　stammering　scream。
  Constant　action　overcomes　cold；　being　still　overcomes　heat。　Purityand　stillness　give　the　correct　law　to　all　under　heaven。？br》
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  When　the　Tao　prevails　in　the　world；　they　send　back　their　swift　horsesto　（draw）　the　dung…carts。　When　the　Tao　is　disregarded　in　the　world；　thewarhorses　breed　in　the　border　lands。　There　is　no　guilt　greater　than　tosanction　ambition；　no　calamity　greater　than　to　be　discontented　with　one'slot；　no　fault　greater　than　the　wish　to　be　getting。　Therefore　the　sufficiencyof　contentment　is　an　enduring　and　unchanging　sufficiency。？br》
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  Without　going　outside　his　door；　one　understands　（all　that　takes　place）under　the　sky；　without　looking　out　from　his　window；　one　sees　the　Tao　ofHeaven。　The　farther　that　one　goes　out　（from　himself）；　the　less　he　knows。Therefore　the　sages　got　their　knowledge　without　traveling；　gave　their　（right）names　to　things　without　seeing　them；　and　accomplished　their　ends　withoutany　purpose　of　doing　so。？br》
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  He　who　devotes　himself　to　learning　（seeks）　from　day　to　day　to　increase（his　knowledge）：　he　who　devotes　himself　to　the　Tao　（seeks）　from　day　today　to　diminish　（his　doings）。　He　diminishes　it　and　again　diminishes　it；till　he　arrives　at　doing　nothing　（on　purpose）。　Having　arrived　at　this　pointof　non…　action；　there　is　nothing　which　he　does　not　do。　He　who　gets　as　hisown　all　under　heaven　does　so　by　giving　himself　no　trouble　（with　that　end）。If　one　take　trouble　（with　that　end）；　he　is　not　equal　to　getting　as　hisall　under　heaven。？br》
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  The　sage　has　no　invariable　smind　of　his　own；　he　makes　the　mind　of　thepeople　his　mind。　To　those　who　are　good　（to　me）；　I　am　good；　and　to　thosewho　are　not　（to　me）；　I　am　also　good；…and　thus　（all）　get　to　be　good。　Tothose　who　are　sincere　（with　me）；　I　am　sincere；　and　to　those　who　are　notsincere　（with　me）；　i　am　also　sincere；…and　thus　（all）　get　to　be　sincere。The　sage　has　in　the　world　an　appearance　of　indecision；　and　keeps　his　mindin　a　state　of　indifference　to　all。　The　people　all　keep　their　eyes　and　earsdirected　to　him；　and　he　deals　with　them　all　as　his　children。
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  Men　come　forth　and　live；　they　enter　（again）　and　die。　Of　every　ten　threeare　ministers　of　life　（to　themselves）；　and　three　are　ministers　of　death。there　are　also　three　in　every　ten　whose　aim　is　to　live；　but　whose　movementstend　to　the　land　（or　place）　of　death。　And　for　what　reason？　Because　of　theirexcessive　endeavours　to　perpetuate　life。　But　I　have　heard　that　he　who　isskilful　in　managing　the　life　entrusted　to　him　for　a　time　travels　on　theland　without　having　to　avoid　buff　coat　or　sharp　weapon。　The　rhinocerosfinds　no　place　in　him　into　which　to　thrust　its　horn；　not　the　tiger　a　placein　which　to　fix　its　claws；　nor　the　weapon　a　place　to　admit　its　point。　Andfor　what　reason？　Because　there　is　in　him　no　place　of　death。
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  All　things　are　produced　by　the　Tao；　and　nourished　by　its　outflowingoperation。　They　receive　their　forms　according　to　the　nature　of　each；　andare　completed　according　to　the　circumstances　of　their　condition。　Thereforeall　things　without　exception　honour　the　Tao；　and　exalt　its　outflowing　operation。This　honouring　of　the　Tao　and　exalting　of　its　operation　is　not　the　resultof　any　ordination；　but　always　a　spontaneous　tribute。　Thus　it　is　that　theTao　produces　（all　things）；　nourishes　them；　brings　them　to　their　full　growth；nurses　them；　completes　them；　matures　them；　maintains　them　and　overspreadsthem。　It　produces　them　and　makes　no　claim　to　the　possession　of　them；　itcarries　them　though　their　processes　and　does　not　vaunt　its　ability　in　doingso；　it　brings　them　to　maturity　and　exercises　no　control　over　them；…thisis　called　mysterious　operation。
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  〃》
  （The　Tao）　which　originated　all　under　the　sky　is　to　be　considered　asthe　mother　of　them　all。　When　the　mother　is　founded；　we　know　what　her　childrenshould　be。　When　one　knows　that　he　is　his　mother's　child；　and　proceeds　toguard　（the　qualities　of）　the　mother　that　belong　to　him；　to　the　end　of　hislife　he　will　be　free　from　all　peril。　Let　him　keep　his　mouth　closed；　andshut　up　the　portals　（of　his　nostrils）；　and　all　his　life　he　will　be　exemptfrom　laborious　exertion。　Let　him　keep　his　mouth　open；　and　（spend　his　breath）in　the　promotion　of　his　affairs；　and　all　his　life　there　will　be　no　safetyfor　him。　The　perception　of　what　is　small　is　（the　secret　of）　clear…sightedness；the　guarding　of　what　is　soft　and　tender　is　（the　secret　of）　strength。
  Who　uses　well　his　light。　Reverting　to　its　（source　so）　bright；　Will　fromhis　body　ward　all　blight；　And　hides　the　unchanging　from　men's　sight。？br》
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  If　I　were　suddenly　to　become　known；　and　（put　into　a　position　to）　conduct（a　government）　according　to　the　Great　Tao；　what　I　should　be　most　afraidof　would　be　a　boastful　display。　The　great　Tao　（or　way）　is　very　level　andeasy；　but　people　love　the　by…ways。　Their　court（…yards　and　buildings）　shallbe　well　kept；　but　their　fields　shall　be　ill…cultivated；　and　their　granariesvery　empty。　They　shall　wear　elegant　and　ornamented　robes；　carry　a　sharpsword　at　their　girdle；　pamper　themselves　in　eating　and　drinking；　and　havea　superabundance　of　property　and　wealth；…such　（princes）　may　be　called　robbersand　boasters。　This　is　contrary　to　the　Tao　surely！？br》
  54
  What　（Tao's）　skilful　planter　plants　can　never　be　uptorn；　What　his　skilfularms　enfold；　From　him　can　ne'er　be　borne。　Sons　shall　bring　in　lengtheningline；　Sacrifices　to　his　shrine。　Tao　when　nursed　within　one's　self；　Hisvigour　will　make　true；　And　where　the　family　it　rules　What　riches　will　accrue！The　neighbourhood　where　it　prevails　In　thriving　will　abound；　And　when　'tisseen　throughout　the　state。　Good　fortune　will　be　found。　Employ　it　the　kingdomo'er；　And　men　thrive　all　around。
  In　this　way　the　effect　will　be　seen　in　the　person；　by　the　observationof　different　cases；　in　the　family；　in　the　neighbourhood；　in　the　state；and　in　the　kingdom。　How　do　I　know　that　this　effect　is　sure　to　hold　thusall　under　the　sky？　By　this　（method　of　observation）。？br》
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  He　who