【正文】 hort is added to. Heaven39。 named it is the mother of all things. To see Tao the observer must be motiveless. Those with selfish motives see only the surface, not the innermost depths. These two kinds of observers look alike but differ in the insight of their observations. They look alike because they are both human。 are genuinely helpful, not discriminating。 disturbances (turmoil) are quieted (submerged). It is like a deep, dark pool. I do not know its source. It is like a prelude to nature, a preface to God. 5 Nature is indifferent to life. It realizes everything is as a straw dog. The truly wise are also indifferent to life. They realize humanity is as a straw dog. The universe is like a bellows: empty, yet quite full. As it proceeds, it produces. Much talk, much exhaustion. Keep your thoughts within! 6 The concept of Yin is ever present. It is the Mystic Female from whom the heavens and earth originate. Constantly, continuously, enduring always. Use her! 7 The heavens endure。 in business they work with quiet efficiency. Serenity is the goal of Tao。 the five tastes dull the tongue. Reckless ambition will unbalance the mind。 hone a swordedge too sharp and the edge will wear too soon。 they are therefore first. They are indifferent to themselves。 do not proclaim their acplishments, and because they do not proclaim them, credit for them can never be taken away. 3 Leaders Work Humbly Leaders should not seek power or status。 reality and fantasy are opposing thoughts。t choose sides It is always with the good people. 80 It is best to have smal munities with few people. And although they have goods and equipment in abundance few of them are even used. They have great love of life, and are content to be right where they are. And although they have boats and carriages, There is no place they particularly want to go. And although they have access to weapons and machineries of war, they have no desire to show them off. Let people return to simplicity, working with their own hands. Then they will find joy in their food Beauty in their simple clothes Peace in their living Fulfillment in their traditions. And although they live within sight of neighboring states And their roosters and dogs are heard by one another The people are content to grow old and die Without having gone to see their neighbor states. 81 True words are not beautifull. Beautifu words are not true. Good people do not argue. Argumentative people are not good. The wise are not necessarily welleducated. The welleducated are not necessarily wise. The Sage does not hoard things. The more she does for others The more she finds she has. The more she gives to others The more she finds she gains. Heaven39。t understand me. And since so few understand me, Then such understanding is rare and valuable indeed. Therefore the Sage wears mon clothes And hides his treasures only in his heart. 71 She who knows that she does not know is the best off. He who pretends to know but doesn39。s Mother, you will long endure. I call this having deep roots and a firm stalk. This is the Way of long life and great insight. 60 Govern a big country as you would fry a smal fish. Approach the world with the Tao and evi will have no power. Not that evi has no power, but it will not harm people. Not that evi is not harmful, But the Sage is dedicated to not harming peopleeven evi people. When no one hurts another, All will eventually return to the good. 61 A great country is like a lowlying lake where many rivers converge。 A foca point for the Earth, the feminine Spirit of the World. The female always overes the male by stillness. Stillness is the lowest position. Therefore a big country, By placing itself below a smaller country Wil win the smaller country. And a smal country, By placing itself below a larger country Wil gain the large country. Therefore, by being humble, one gains And the other, being humble already, also gains. A great country needs to embrace the lowly. The smal country needs to serve others. Thus, both needs are satisfied And each gets what it wants. Remember, the great country should always humble itself. 62 The Tao is the bosom of the Universe It is the good person39。t is ill. Only someone who realizes he is ill can bee whole. The sage is not il because she recognizes this illness as illness, Therefore she is not ill. 72 When people lose their fear of power Then great power has indeed arrived. Do not intrude on the people39。s Way is to nourish, not to harm. The Sage39。 difficult and simple oppose in degree。 people will not then crave power or status. If scarce good are not valued highly, people will have no need to steal them. If there is nothing available to arouse passion, people will remain content and satisfied. The truly wise lead by instilling humility and openmindedness, by providing for fair livelihoods, by discouraging personal ambition, and by helping people to be upright. The wise avoid evil and radical reform。 they are therefore selfconfident. Perhaps it is because they do not exist for themselves that they find plete fulfillment. 8 The highest motive is to be like water: water is essential to all life, yet it does not demand a fee or proclaim its importance. Rather, it flows humbly to the lowest level, and in so doing it is much like Tao. In the home the truly wise love the humble earth, the foundation on which the home is built。 fill your house with gold and jade and you invite thieve