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To them the Ten Thousand things are but as straw dogs。
The Sage too is ruthless；
To him the people are but as straw dogs。
Yet Heaven and Earth and all that lies between
Is like a bellows
In that it is empty； but gives a supply that never fails。
Work it； and more comes out。
Whereas the force of words is soon spent。
Far better is it to keep what is in the heart。
6
The Valley Spirit never dies。
It is named the Mysterious Female。
And the doorway of the Mysterious Female
Is the base from which Heaven and Earth sprang。
It is there within us all the while；
Draw upon it as you will； it never runs dry。
7
Heaven is eternal； the Earth everlasting。
How come they to be so？
It is because they do not foster their own lives；
That is why they live so long。
Therefore the Sage
Puts himself in the background； but is always to the fore。
Remains outside； but is always there。
Is it not just because he does not strive for any personal end
That all his personal ends are fulfilled？
8
The highest good is like that of water。
The goodness of is that it benefits the ten thousand creatures；
Yet itself does not scramble；
But is content with the places that all men disdain。
It is this makes water so near to the Way。
And if men think the ground the best place for building a house upon；
If among thoughts they value those that are profound；
If in friendship they value gentleness；
In words； truth； in government； good order；
In deeds； effectiveness； in actions； timeliness …
In each case it is because they prefer what does not lead to strife；
And therefore does not go amiss。
9
Stretch a bow to the very full；
And you will wish you had stopped in time；
Temper a sword…edge to its very sharpest；
And you will find it soon grows dull。
When bronze and jade fill your hall。
It can no longer be guarded。
Wealth and place breed insolence。
That brings ruin in its train。
When your work is done； then withdraw！
Such is Heaven's Way。
10
Can you keep the unquiet physical…soul from straying；
Hold fast to the Unity； and never quit it？
Can you； when concentrating your breath；
Make it soft like that of a little child？
Can you wipe and cleanse your vision of the Mystery till all is without blur？
Can you love the people and rule the land；
Yet remain unknown？
Can you in opening and shutting the heavenly gates play always the female part？
Can your mind penetrate every corner of the land；
But you yourself never interfere？
Rear them； then； feed them；
Rear them； but do not lay claim to them。
Control them； but never lean upon them；
Be chief among them； but do not manage them。
This is called the Mysterious Power。
11
We put thirty spokes together and call it a wheel；
But it is on the space where there is nothing
That the usefulness of the wheel depends。
We turn clay to make a vessel；
But it is on the space where there is nothing
That the usefulness of the vessel depends。
We pierce doors and windows to make a house；
And it is on these spaces where there is nothing
That the usefulness of the house depends。
Therefore just as we take advantage of what is；
We should recognize the usefulness of what is not。
12
The fives colours confuse the eye；
The fives sounds dull the ear；
The five tastes spoil the palate。
Excess of hunting and chasing
Makes minds go mad。
Products that are hard to get
Impede their owner's movements。
Therefore the Sage
Considers the belly not the eye。
Truly； 揾e rejects that but takes this？
13
Favour and disgrace goad as it were to madness；
High rank hurts keenly as our bodies hurt。？br》
What does it mean to say that favour and disgrace goad as it were to madness？
It means that when a rule's subjects get it they turn distraught；
When they lose it they turn distraught。
That is what is meant to by saying favour and disgrace goad as it were to madness。
What does it mean to say that high rank hurts keenly as our bodies hurt？
The only reason that we suffer hurt is that we have bodies；
If we had no bodies； how could we suffer？
Therefore we may accept the saying：
揌e who in dealing with the empire regards his high rank
As through it were his body is the best person to be entrusted with rules；
He who in dealing with the empire loves his subjects as one should love one's body
Is the best person to whom one commit the empire。？br》
14
Because the eye gazes but can catch no glimpse of it；
It is called elusive。
Because the ear listens but cannot hear it；
It is called the rarefied。
Because the hand feels for it but cannot find it；
It is called the infinitesimal。
These three； because they cannot be further scrutinized；
Blend into one；
Its rising brings no light；
Its sinking； no darkness。
Endless the series of things without name
On the way back to where there is nothing。
They are called shapeless shapes；
Forms without form；
Are called vague semblance。
Go towards them； and you can see no front；
Go after them； and you see no rear。
Yet by seizing on the Way that was
You can ride the things that are now。
For to know what once there was； in the Beginning；
This is called the essence of the Way。
15
Of old those that were the best officers of Court
Had inner natures subtle； abstruse； mysterious； penetrating；
Too deep to be understood。
And because such men could not be understood
I can but tell of them as they appeared to the world：
Circumspect they seemed； like one who in winter crosses a stream；
Watchful； as one who must meet danger on every side。
Ceremonious； as one who pays a visit；
Yet yielding； as ice when it begins to melt。
Blank； as a piece of uncarved wood；
Yet receptive as a hollow in the hills。
Murky； as a troubled stream 棖
（Tranquil； as the vast reaches of the sea；
Drifting as the wind with no stop。）
Which of you an assume such murkiness；
To become in the end still and clear？
Which of you can make yourself insert；
To become in the end full of life and stir？
Those who possess this Tao do not try to fill themselves to the brim；
And because they do not try to fill themselves to the brim；
They are like a garment that endures all wear and need never be renewed。
16
Push far enough towards the Void；
Hold fast enough to Quietness；
And of the ten thousand things none but can be worked on by you。
I have beheld them； whither they go back。
See； all things howsoever they flourish
Return to the root from which they grew。
This return to the root is called Quietness；
Quietness is called submission to Fate；
What has submitted to Fate has become part of the always so。
To know the always…so is to