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fter the Dao is lost there is virtue。 After virtue is lost； there isbenevolence。 After benevolence is lost； there is righteousness。 After righteousnessis lost； there is propriety。 Now propriety is the husk of faithfulnessand trust and the beginning of disorder。 The initial discernments are thedetritus of the Dao and the beginnings of ignorance。 For this reason thegreat man abides in the substantial parts and does not tarry in the husk。He abides in the solid parts and does not tarry in the detritus。 So herejects that and accepts this。
39
Of those in ancient times who attained unity： Heaven attained unity inorder to be pure。 Earth attained unity in order to be stable。 Spirits attainedunity in order to be responsive。 The valleys attained unity in order tobe full。 The myriad creatures attained unity in order to reproduce。 Thelords and kings attained unity in order to become the correct ones in theworld。＇It is unity that＇ brings them to this height。 If Heaven did nothave what it takes to be pure； it would probably become rent。 If Earthdid not have the means to be stable； it would probably quake。 If the spiritsdid not have the means to be responsive； they would probably dissipate。If the valleys did not have the means to be filled； they would probablybecome exhausted。 If the myriad creatures did not have the means to reproduce；they would probably become extinct。 If the lords and kings did not havethe means to be noble and exalted； they would probably fall。 So the nobletakes the ignoble as its base； and the high takes the low as its foundation。For this reason the lords and kings speak of themselves as the orphaned；the bereaved； and the unworthy。 Is this not taking the ignoble as one'sbase？ Is this not so？ So the highest degree of good repute is to have nogood repute。 Be not glistening like jade ＇but＇ stony like rock。
40
Recirculation is ＇characteristic of＇ the motion of the Dao。 Weakness is＇characteristic of ＇ the functioning of the Dao。 The myriad creatures ofthe world are produced out of things that exist。 Existence is producedfrom non…existence。
41
When the superior knight…scholar hears of the Dao； he diligently puts itinto practice。 When the average knight…scholar hears of the Dao； it ishalf as though he preserves ＇the concept of＇ it in his mind and half asthough it is lost。 When the inferior knight…scholar hears of the Dao； helaughs uproariously at the notion。 If such a one did not laugh at it； itwould be something too inadequate to be the Dao。 So an established sayingstates that the brightness of the Dao seems like darkness； the advanceof the Dao seems like retreat； the level Dao seems rough； the superiorvirtue seems like a gully； the whitest white seems sullied； ample virtueseems inadequate； firmly established virtue seems stealthy； pristine virtueseems polluted； the greatest square has no corners； the greatest vesselsare completed late； the greatest sound is inaudible； the greatest imagehas no form。 The Dao hides itself in namelessness。 Now only the Dao isgood at bestowing ＇things upon the creatures of the world＇ and bringing＇them＇ to completion。
42
The Dao produced the One。 The One produced the Two。 The Two produced theThree。 And the Three produced the myriad creatures。 The myriad creaturesbear Yin on their backs and embrace Yang。 They blend lifebreaths in orderto create a harmony。 People abominate nothing more than to be orphaned；bereaved； and unworthy； yet the lords and kings take these ＇terms＇ as theirappellations。 So creatures may be worn away and thereby augmented； or theymay be augmented and thereby worn away。
What other people teach I also teach： 〃Ruffians will come to no goodend。'' I take this as my precept。
43
The most pliant things in the world ride roughshod over the hardest。 Non…beingenters even where there is no fissure。 For this reason I know the benefitof non…action。 Few in the world can attain to ＇comprehension of＇ the wordlessteaching or to the benefits of non…activity。
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 conf