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47
To know All…under…heaven without going out of doors！
Without peeping out of the window； to see the Way of Heaven！
The further one goes out； the less one knows。
Therefore： the Saint knows without travelling； names （things） without seeing them； achieves without acting。
48
Practice learning and there is daily increase。
Practice the Way and there is daily decrease。
Decrease； and again decrease； till it reaches non…action。
By doing nothing there is nothing that is not done。
49
The Saint has no fixed mind。 He makes the mind of the people his own； （saying）： 〃The good I treat well； and the not…good I also treat well； thus I obtain goodness。 Those of good faith I treat with good faith； and those not of good faith I also treat with good faith； thus I obtain good faith。〃
The Saint in Al…under…heaven makes no distinctions； he makes his heart impartial towards All…under…heaven。 The people rivet their ears and eyes on him； and the Saint treats them all like infants。
50
Coming forth （man） is born； entering he dies。
Followers of life there are three in ten； followers of death there are three in ten； and men who； while regarding life as life； in their every act tend towards the death…spot； there are also three in ten。
Why is that？ Because of the excessive manner in which they regard life as life。
For indeed； I have heard that one who has a firm purchase on life； when travelling overland； meets neither tiger no rhinoceros； and when going into battle； he wears no cuirass no does he bear arms。 A rhinoceros would find nowhere to butt its horn； a tiger would find nowhere to fix its claws； weapons would find no room to enter their blades。 Why is that？ Because he has no death…spot。
51
The Way produces them； Virtue rears them； things lend their form； environment completes their development。
Therefore the ten thousand things there is none but honours the Way and values Virtue。
Honouring the Way and valuing Virtue is not at somebody's behest but is always spontaneous。
For the Way produces； Virtue rears。 They grow； feed； prosper； lead； support and shelter。
They produce and rear： they produce but do not appropriate； they act but do not rely （on the result）； they grow but do not control。
When a work has been accomplished they do not rest in it。 Indeed； just because they do not rest in it； they do not withdraw。
This is called the mystic Virtue。
52
All…under…heaven has a beginning which may be regarded as the mother of All…under…heaven。 Having found the mother one may know the children。 If； knowing the children； one still keeps to the mother； until the end of his life one is not in peril。
Stop its apertures； close its doors； and until the （natural） completion of the body （your strength） will not fail。
Open its apertures； promote its activities and until the （natural） completion of the body nothing will avail。
To perceive what is small is （clear） vision； to keep to what is weak is strength。
If using the light； one resorts to one's vision； the body will not be exposed to any harm。 This is called 〃practicing what is constant〃。
53
Suppose that with only the least scrap of knowledge I were to walk the great Way； I would only fear turning aside。 Though the great Way is quite level； people love bypaths。
When the Court is well purified； but the fields are full of weeds and the granaries are empty； （the rulers） wear decorated and embroidered robes； gird themselves with sharp swords； glut themselves with food； and have superfluous possessions； … this I call robbing and bragging。
It is certainly contrary to the Way。
54
That which is well planted is not uprooted。
That which is well clasped is not snatched away。
Sons and grandsons will then not interrupt their sacrifices。
If one practices （the Way） in one's person； its Virtue will be genuineness。
If one practices it in one's family； its Virtue will be abundance。
If one practices it in one's village； its Virtue will be durability。
If one practices it in one's state； its Virtue will be prosperity。
If one practices it in the Empire； its Virtue will be universality。
From the standpoint of one's own person one views other persons； from that of one's own family other families； from that of one's own village other villages； from that of one's own state other states； from that of the Empire the Empire。
How do I know that it is like this for the Empire？
By this。
55
The plenitude of one who contains Virtue within himself； may be likened to that of an infant。
Poisonous insects will not sting it； fierce beasts will not seize it； nor will birds of prey claw it。 Though its bones are weak and its sinews soft； it has a firm grip。 Though it knows not yet of the union of male and female； its male member will stir。 This is because the fine essence （in it） has attained the utmost （potency）。 Though it may scream all day long； its voice will not become hoarse。 This is because the natural harmony （in it） has attained the utmost （potency）。
To understand the natural harmony means being constant。
To understand being constant means being enlightened。
To increase life means inviting evil。
To control the vital breath with the mind means rigidity。
When things have matured they age。 （Such control） is contrary to the Way。 What is contrary to the Way will soon end。
56
He stops his apertures； he closes his doors。
〃He blunts his sharpness； he unravels tangles； he dims brightness； he levels tracks。
This is called the mystic equality。
For in getting him one cannot come close nor remain distant； one cannot profit by him nor be harmed by him； one cannot gain honour by him nor suffer disgrace by him。
Therefore he is the most prized in All…under…heaven。
57
A State may be ruled by rectification and a war may be fought by stratagems； but the Empire is gained by non…action。
The Empire is gained by remaining constantly in non…action。 As soon as one becomes active； one is unable to gain the Empire。
How do I know that this is so？ By this：
The more taboos and prohibitions there are in the Empire； the poorer the people will be。
The more useful implements the people have； the more state and dynasty will be in confusion。
The more cunning craftsmen there are； the more bizarre contrivances will spring up。
The more laws and ordinances are promulgated； the more thieves and robbers will there be。
Therefore a Saint has said：
〃If I practice doing nothing； the people will of themselves be correct。
If I love stillness； the people will of themselves be correct。
If I practice non…action； the people will of themselves become rich。
If I practice being without desires； the people will of themselves become simple。〃
58
If government is mope…eyed； the people will be faultless。
If government is far…sighted； the people will be full of flaws。
Bad fortune is what good fortune leans on。
Good fortune is what bad fortune hides in。
Who may know the acme