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16
I do my utmost to attain emptiness；
I hold firmly to stillness。
The myriad creatures all rise together
And I watch their return。
The teaming creatures
All return to their separate roots。
Returning to one's roots is known as stillness。
This is what is meant by returning to one's destiny。
Returning to one's destiny is known as the constant。
Knowledge of the constant is known as discernment。
Woe to him who wilfully innovates
While ignorant of the constant；
But should one act from knowledge of the constant
One's action will lead to impartiality；
Impartiality to kingliness；
Kingliness to heaven；
Heaven to the way；
The way to perpetuity；
And to the end of one's days one will meet with no danger。
17
The best of all rulers is but a shadowy presence to his subjects。
Next comes the ruler they love and praise；
Next comes one they fear；
Next comes one with whom they take liberties。
When there is not enough faith； there is lack of good faith。
Hesitant； he does not utter words lightly。
When his task is accomplished and his work done
The people all say； 'It happened to us naturally。'
18
When the great way falls into disuse
There are benevolence and rectitude；
When cleverness emerges
There is great hypocrisy；
When the six relations are at variance
There are filial children；
When the state is benighted
There are loyal ministers。
19
Exterminate learning and there will no longer be worries。
Exterminate the sage； discard the wise；
And the people will benefit a hundredfold；
Exterminate benevolence； discard rectitude；
And the people will again be filial；
Exterminate ingenuity； discard profit；
And there will be no more thieves and bandits。
These three； being false adornments； are not enough
And the people must have something to which they can attach themselves：
Exhibit the unadorned and embrace the uncarved block；
Have little thought of self and as few desires as possible。
20
Between yea and nay
How much difference is there？
Between good and evil
How great is the distance？
What others fear
One must also fear。
The multitude are joyous
As if partaking of the offering
Or going up to a terrace in spring。
I alone am inactive and reveal no signs；
And wax without having reached the limit。
Like a baby that has not yet learned to smile；
Listless as though with no home to go back to。
The multitude all have more than enough。
I alone seem to be in want。
My mind is that of a fool … how blank！
Vulgar people are clear。
I alone am drowsy。
Vulgar people are alert。
I alone am muddled。
Calm like the sea；
Like a high wind that never ceases。
The multitude all have a purpose。
I alone am foolish and uncouth。
I alone am different from others
And value being fed by the mother。
21
In his every movement a man of great virtue
Follows the way and the way only。
As a thing the way is
Shadowy and indistinct。
Indistinct and shadowy；
Yet within it is an image；
Shadowy and indistinct；
Yet within it is a substance。
Dim and dark；
Yet within it is an essence。
This essence is quite genuine
And within it is something that can be tested。
From the present back to antiquity；
Its name never deserted it。
It serves as a means for inspecting the fathers of the multitude。
How do I know that the fathers of the multitude are like that？
By means of this。
22
Bowed down then preserved；
Bent then straight；
Hollow then full；
Worn then new；
A little then benefited；
A lot then perplexed。
Therefore the sage embraces the One and is a model for the empire。
He does not show himself； and so is conspicuous；
He does not consider himself right； and so is illustrious；
He does not brag； and so has merit；
He does not boast； and so endures。
It is because he does not contend that no one in the empire is in aposition to contend with him。
The way the ancients had it； 'Bowed down then preserved'； is no emptysaying。
Truly it enables one to be preserved to the end。
23
To use words but rarely
Is to be natural。
Hence a gusty wind cannot last all morning； and a sudden downpour cannotlast all day。
Who is it that produces these？ Heaven and earth。
If even heaven and earth cannot go on forever； much less can man。
That is why one follows the way。
A man of the way conforms to the way；
A man of virtue conforms to virtue；
A man of loss conforms to loss。
He who conforms to the way is gladly accepted by the way；
He who conforms to virtue is gladly accepted by virtue；
He who conforms to loss is gladly accepted by loss。
When there is not enough faith； there is lack of good faith。
24
He who tiptoes cannot stand； he who strides cannot walk。
He who shows himself is not conspicuous；
He who considers himself right is not illustrious；
He who brags will have no merit；
He who boasts will not endure。
From the point of view of the way these are 'excessive food and uselessexcresences'。
As there are Things that detest them； he who has the way does not abidein them。？br》
25
There is a thing confusedly formed；
Born before heaven and earth。
Silent and void
It stands alone and does not change；
Goes round and does not weary。
It is capable of being the mother of the world。
I know not its name
So I style it 'the way'。
I give it the makeshift name of 'the great'。
Being great； it is further described as receding；
Receding； it is described as far away；
Being far away； it is described as turning back。
Hence the way is great；
Heaven is great；
Earth is great；
The king is also great。
Within the realm there are four things that are great；
And the king counts as one。
Man models himself on earth；
Earth on heaven；
Heaven on the way；
And the way on that which is naturally so。
26
The heavy is the root of the light；
The still is the lord of the restless。
Therefore the gentleman when travelling all day
Never lets the heavily laden carts out of his sight。
It is only when he is safely behind walls and watch…towers
That he rests peacefully and is above worries。
How； then； should a ruler of ten thousand chariots
Make light of his own person in the eyes of the empire？
If light； then the root is lost；
If restless； then the lord is lost。
27
One who excels in travelling leaves no wheel tracks；
One who excels in speech makes no slips；
One who excels in reckoning uses no counting rods；
One who excels in shutting uses no bolts yet what he has shut cannotbe opened。
One who excels in tying uses no cords yet what he has tied cannot beundone。
The