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He who does not fail in the requirements of his position； continueslong； he who dies and yet does not perish； has longevity。？br》
34
All…pervading is the Great Tao！ It may be found on the left hand andon the right。 All things depend on it for their production； which it givesto them； not one refusing obedience to it。 When it gives to them； not onerefusing obedience to it。 When its work is accomplished； it does not claimthe name of having done it。 It clothes all things as with a garment； andmakes no assumption of being their lord；…it may be named in the smallestthings。 All things return （to their root and disappear）； and do not knowthat it is it which presides over their doing so；…it may be named in thegreatest things。 Hence the sage is able （in the same way） to accomplishhis great achievements。 It is through his not making himself great thathe can accomplish them。？br》
35
To him who holds in his hands the Great Image （of the invisible Tao）；the whole world repairs。 Men resort to him； and receive no hurt； but （find）rest； peace； and the feeling of ease。
Music and dainties will make the passing guest stop （for a time）。
But though the Tao as it comes from the mouth； seems insipid and hasno flavour； though it seems not worth being looked at or listened to； theuse of it is inexhaustible。？br》
36
When one is about to take an inspiration； he is sure to make a （previous）expiration； when he is going to weaken another； he will first strengthenhim； when he is going to overthrow another； he will first have raised himup； when he is going to despoil another； he will first have made giftsto him：…this is called 'hiding the light （of his procedure）。' The softovercomes the hard； and the weak the strong。 Fishes should not be takenfrom the deep； instruments for the profit of a state should not be shownto the people。
37
The tao in its regular course does nothing （for the sake of doing it）； and so there is nothing which it does not do。 If princes and kings were able to maintain it； all things would of themselves be transformed by them。 If this transformation became to me an object of desire； I would express the desire by the nameless simplicity。
Simplicity without a name。 Is free from all external aim。 With no desire； at rest and still； All things go right as of their will。
38
（Those who） possessed in highest degree the attributes （of the Tao）did not （seek） to show them； and therefore they possessed them （in fullestmeasure）。 （Those who） possessed in a lower degree those attributes （soughthow） not to lose them； and therefore they did not possess them （in fullestmeasure）。 （Those who） possessed in the highest degree those attributesdid nothing （with a purpose）； and had no need to do anything。 （Those who）possessed them in a lower degree were （always） doing； and had need to beso doing。 （Those who） possessed the highest benevolence were （always seeking）to carry it out； and had no need to be doing so。 （Those who） possessedthe highest righteousness were （always seeking） to carry it out； and hadneed to be so doing。 （Those who） possessed the highest （sense of） proprietywere （always seeking） to carry it out； and had need to be so doing。 （Thosewho） possessed the highest （sense of） propriety were （always seeking） toshow it； and when men did not respond to it； they bared the arm and marchedup to them。 Thus it was that when the Tao was lost； its attributes appeared；when its attributes were lost； benevolence appeared； when benevolence waslost； the proprieties appeared。 Now propriety is the attenuated form ofleal…heartedness and good faith； and is also the commencement of disorder；swift apprehension is （only） a flower of the Tao； and is the beginningof stupidity。 Thus it is that the Great man abides by what is solid andeschews what is flimsy； dwells with the fruit and not with the flower。It is thus that he puts away the one and makes choice of the other。
＇*Note： 'leal…heartedness' = loyal…heartedness。＇？br》
39
The things which from of old have got the One （the Tao） are
Heaven which by it is bright and pure； Earth rendered thereby firmand sure； Spirits with powers by it supplied； Valleys kept full throughtheir void； All creatures which through it do live； Princes and kings whofrom it get The model which to all they give。
All these are the results of the one （Tao）。
If heaven were not thus pure； it soon would rend； If earth were notthus sure； 'twould break and bend； Without these powers； the spirits soonwould fail； If not so filled； the drought would parch each vale； Withoutthat life； creatures would pass away； Princes and kings； without that moralsway； However grand and high； would all decay。
Thus it is that dignity finds its （firm） root in its （previous） meanness；and what is lofty finds its stability in the lowness （from which it rises）。Hence princes and kings call themselves 'Orphans；' 'Men of small virtue；'and as 'Carriages without a nave。' Is not this an acknowledgment that intheir considering themselves mean they see the foundation of their dignity？So it is that in the enumeration of the different parts of a carriage wedo not come 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》
40
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》
41
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》
42
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