44
  Which　is　dearer　to　you；　your　＇good＇　name　or　your　life？　Which　＇counts＇　morewith　you；　your　person　or　your　material　goods？　Which　is　the　more　injurious；gain　or　loss？　For　these　reasons；　extreme　love　must　involve　great　costsand　great　accumulations　must　involve　heavy　losses。　Knowing　when　you　haveenough　＇means＇　no　ignominy；　and　knowing　when　to　stop　＇means＇　no　danger；so　one　can　long　endure。
  45
  The　greatest　accomplishment　seems　to　have　imperfections；　yet　there　is　noimpairment　in　its　function。　The　greatest　fullness　is　like　vacuity；　yetin　use　it　is　never　exhausted。　The　greatest　straightness　is　like　crookedness。The　greatest　knack　is　like　clumsiness。　The　greatest　eloquence　is　like　stumblingspeech。　Agitation　overcomes　the　cold；　tranquility　overcomes　the　heat。　Thepure　and　tranquil　are　the　correct　ones　in　the　world。
  46
  When　the　Dao　prevails　in　the　world；　fleet…footed　horses　are　turned　back＇to　the　fields＇　in　order　to　fertilize　them。　When　the　Dao　does　not　prevailin　the　world；　war　horses　are　foaled　in　the　outskirts　of　the　cities。　｛Thereis　no　greater　transgression　than　condoning　desire。）　There　is　no　greaterdisaster　than　failing　to　know　when　you　have　enough。　There　is　no　greaterretribution　than　acquisitiveness。　So　the　adequacy　of　knowing　when　you　haveenough　is　＇itself＇　a　constant　adequacy。
  47
  Know　the　whole　world　without　going　outdoors。　Perceive　the　Dao　of　Heavenwithout　peeking　out　the　window。　The　further　one　goes　the　less　one　knows。For　this　reason　the　Sage　knows　without　going　anywhere；　perceives　clearlywithout　looking；　and　makes　accomplishments　without　doing　anything。
  48
  One　who　engages　in　study　is　daily　increased。　One　who　engages　in　the　Daois　daily　diminished。　Diminish　and　once　again　diminish　until　there　is　noactivity。　When　there　is　no　activity　there　is　nothing　that　will　not　be　done。One　always　takes　the　world　by　means　of　not　meddling。　When　one　meddles　thenone　is　inadequate　to　take　the　world。
  49
  The　Sage　has　no　constant　mind。　He　takes　the　minds　of　the　common　peopleto　be　his　own。
  Those　who　are　good　I　treat　as　good。　Those　who　are　not　good　I　also　treatas　good。　Thereby　I　gain　goodness。　The　trustworthy　I　trust。　The　untrustworthyI　also　trust。　Thereby　I　gain　trust。
  The　Sage　is　closed　off　in　respect　to　the　world。　For　the　sake　of　theworld　the　Sage　muddles　his　mind。　The　common　people　all　strain　their　eyesand　ears。＇Yet＇　the　Sage　treats　them　all　as　little　children。
  50
  Emerging　is　being　born；　entering　is　dying。　Three　out　of　ten　are　disciplesof　life。　Three　out　of　ten　are　disciples　of　death。　Three　out　of　ten　movein　the　course　of　their　lives　toward　the　realm　of　death。　For　what　reason？Because　they　would　augment　the　richness　of　life。　Now　I　have　heard　thatthose　who　are　good　at　aiding　life　when　travelling　on　land　do　not　encounterrhinoceroses　and　tigers。　When　they　enter　armed　conflict　they　need　not　beararms　or　armour。　There　is　nowhere　for　the　rhinoceros　to　gore　with　its　horn。The　tiger　finds　no　place　to　sink　its　claws。　Weapons　find　no　place　to　lodgetheir　blades。　Why？　Because　there　is　no　death…place　in　him。
  51
  The　Dao　produces　them。　Virtue　nurtures　them。　Creatures　give　them　form。Power　configurations　bring　them　to　completion。　For　that　reason　none　ofthe　myriad　creatures　fails　to　respect　the　Dao　and　to　revere　virtue。　Noone　orders　this　respect　for　the　Dao　and　reverence　of　virtue；　for　it　alwaysoccurs　of　its　own　accord。　So　the　Dao　produces　them　cultivatesthem；　fosters　them；　nurtures　them；　gives　them　refuge；　gives　them　peace；rears　them；　and　shelters　them。　It　produces　them　without　seeking　to　possessthem　and　acts　without　exacting　gratitude。　It　is　senior　to　them　yet　doesnot　rule　over　them。　It　is　called　the　dark　and　mysterious　virtue。
  52
  The　world　has　a　beginning　that　acts　as　its　mother。　Once　one　attains　tothe　mother；　one　can　know　the　child。　Having　known　the　child；　return　to　holdingto　the　mother。　Then　one　will　be　in　no　danger　though　one　should　lose　one'sbody。　Plug　your　orifices；　close　your　gates；　and　you　will　be　toil…free　tothe　end　of　your　life。　If　you　open　your　orifices　in　order　to　aid　in　yourendeavors　then　you　will　never　be　rescued　to　the　end　of　your　days。　To　seethe　minute　is　called　discernment。　To　hold　to　the　pliant　is　called　strength。To　use　your　inner　light　to　return　once　more　to　discernment　and　thus　avoidabandoning　yourself　to　danger　is　to　depend　on　the　Constant。
  53
  Should　I　have　the　least　bit　of　knowledge；　fear　only　that　I　might　use　itas　I　set　out　upon　the　great　Dao。　The　great　Dao　is　very　smooth；　yet　peopleprefer　the　shortcuts。　If　the　court　is　immaculate；　the　fields　will　growwild　and　the　granneries　will　become　very　empty。　To　wear　embroidered　robesand　strap　on　sharp　swords；　to　satiate　oneself　with　food　and　drink；　andto　have　an　excess　of　wealth　and　possessions　＇at　such　a　time＇　is　calledbanditry　and　excess。　Oh！　How　such　activities　go　against　the　Dao。
  54
  What　is　well　built　cannot　be　pulled　up。　What　is　well　clasped　cannot　slipfree。　By　these　means　one's　sons　and　grandsons　will　offer　sacrifice　unendingly。If　it　is　cultivated　in　one's　person；　then　virtue　will　be　genuine。　If　itis　cultivated　in　one's　family；　then　virtue　will　be　ample。　If　it　is　cultivatedin　one's　local　community；　then　virtue　will　be　enduring。　If　it　is　cultivatedin　one's　kingdom；　then　virtue　will　be　plentiful。　If　it　is　cultivated　inthe　world；　then　virtue　will　be　universal。　So　observe　each　person　in　termsof　that　person　himself；　observe　each　family　in　terms　of　that　family　itself；observe　each　community　in　terms　of　that　community　itself。　Observe　eachkingdom　in　terms　of　that　kingdom　itself。　Observe　the　world　in　terms　ofthe　world　itself。　How　do　I　know　the　way　the　world　is？　By　this。
  55
  One　possessing　the　fullness　of　virtue　may　be　compared　to　a　newborn　baby。Hornets；　scorpions；　vipers；　and　snakes　cannot　sting　＇the　newborn　baby＇。The　fierce　beasts　do　not　pounce　upon　it。　The　raptors　do　not　sink　theirtalons　into　it。　The　baby's　bones　are　pliant；　his　muscles　weak；　yet　hisgrip　is　firm。　He　has　never　known　the　coupling　of　male　and　female；　yet　hasa　full　erection。　That　is　the　height　of　vitality。　He　cries　the　entire　dayyet　does　not　become　hoarse。　That　is　the　perfection　of　harmony。　To　knowharmony　is　said　to　be　constant。　To　know　constancy　is　said　to　be　enlightenment。To　augment　life　is　said　to　be　inauspicious。　For　the　heart　and　mind　to　exertcompulsion　on　the　lifebreath　is　said　to　be　forcing　things。　When　creaturescome　to　their　prime　they　begin　to　age。　That　is　spoken　of　as　the　dao　（course）of　retrograde　action。　What　is　on　the　retrograde　dao　is　soon　finished。
  56
  Those　who　know　do　not　talk。　Those　who　talk　do　not　know。＇So：＇　Stop　up　yourorifices。　Close　your　doors。　Blunt　your　sharpness。　Release　your　tangles。Harmonize　your　lights。　Make　same　your　dust。　So　doing　is　called　the　darkand　mysterious　identity。　Therefore　＇those　who　have　attained　to　the　mysteriousidentity＇　cannot　be　made　to　be　intimate；　and　they　cannot　be　alienated。They　cannot　be　benefited；　and　they　cannot　be　injured。　They　cannot　be　ennobled；and　they　cannot　suffer　degradation。　Therefore　they　are　noble　among　allthose　in　the　world。
  57
  Govern　the　kingdom　with　uprightness。　Use　weapons　of　war　with　guile。　Takethe　world　by　means　of　non…doing。　How　do　I　know　the　way　it　is？　By　this：If　there　are　many　prohibitions　in　the　world；　then　the　people　will　becomeeven　poorer。　If　the　people　have　many　sharp　weapons　then　the　kingdom　willbecome　even　more　chaotic。　If　the　people　have　many　tricks　then　abnormalthings　will　abound。　If　laws　and　commandments　proliferate；　then　there　willbe　large　numbers　of　bandits　and　robbers。　So　the　Sage　says：　I　do　nothingand　the　people　transform　of　their　own　accord。　I　like　tranquility　and　thepeople　rectify　themselves。　I　do　not　（have　things　to　do　=）　meddle　and　thepeople　themselves　prosper。　I　have　no　desires　and　the　people　themselvescome　to　the　state　of　the　Uncarved　Block。
  58
  When　governance　is　stifled　the　people　will　be　wholesome。　When　governanceis　exacting；　the　people　will　be　shifty。　Good　fortune　depends　on　disaster；and　disaster　＇in　turn＇　is　concealed　in　good　fortune。　Who　knows　the　end＇of　this　cyclical　process＇　or　＇the　extent　of＇　its　irregularity？　The　straightforwardchanges　into　guile。　Good　changes　into　what　is　pernicious。　This　has　indeedbaffled　people　for　a　long　time。　For　this　reason　the　Sage　squares　yet　doesnot　cut。　He　is　probing　yet　does　no　one　injury。　He　is　straight　and　yet　doesnot　force　things　into　line。　He　is　radiant　and　yet　does　not　dazzle。
  59
  There　is　nothing　as　good　as　frugality　for　regulating　the　people　and　forserving　Heaven。　Now　only　frugality　can　be　called　an　early　compliance。　Anearly　compliance　is　spoken　of　as　a　double　accumulation　of　virtue。　Whenvirtue　is　doubly　accumulated；　then　there　is　nothing　that　is　not　overcome。When　there　is　nothing　that　is　not　overcome；　then　no　one　knows　your　limit。When　no　one　knows　your　limit；　then　you　may　possess　the　kingdom。　When　youhave　the　mother　of　the　kingdom；　you　can　be　long　enduring。　That　is　spokenof　as　the　deep　root；　the　firm…set　trunk；　the　Way　to　long　life　and　enduringvision。
  60
  Regulating　a　large　country　is　like　boiling　small　fish。　When　the　Dao　isused　to　oversee　the　world；　then　its　negative　（contractive）　forc