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《老子》第一章

道可道，非常道。名可名，非常名。

无名天地之始；有名万物之母。

故常无，欲以观其妙；常有，欲以观其徼。

此两者，同出而异名，同谓之玄。玄之又玄，众妙之门。

The Tao that can be followed is not the eternal Tao.
The name that can be named is not the eternal name.
The nameless is the origin of heaven and earth
While naming is the origin of the myriad things.
Therefore, always desireless, you see the mystery
Ever desiring, you see the manifestations.
These two are the same--
When they appear they are named differently.

Their sameness is the mystery,
Mystery within mystery;

The door to all marvels.

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《老子》第二章

天下皆知美之为美，斯恶已。皆知善之为善，斯不善已。

有无相生，难易相成，长短相形，高下相盈，音声相和，前后相随。恒也。

是以圣人处无为之事，行不言之教；

万物作而弗始，生而弗有，为而弗恃，功成而不居。夫唯弗居，是以不去。

All in the world recognize the beautiful as beautiful.
Herein lies ugliness.
All recognize the good as good.
Herein lies evil.

Therefore
Being and non-being produce each other.
Difficulty and ease bring about each other.
Long and short delimit each other.
High and low rest on each other.
Sound and voice harmonize each other.
Front and back follow each other.

Therefore the sage abides in the condition of wu-wei (unattached action).
And carries out the wordless teaching.
Here, the myriad things are made, yet not separated.

Therefore the sage produces without possessing,
Acts without expectations
And accomplishes without abiding in her accomplishments.

It is precisely because she does not abide in them
That they never leave her.

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《老子》第三章

不尚贤，使民不争；不贵难得之货，使民不为盗；不见可欲，使民心不乱。

是以圣人之治，虚其心，实其腹，弱其志，强其骨。常使民无知无欲。使夫智者不敢为也。

为无为，则无不治。

If you do not adulate the worthy, you will make others non-contentious.
If you do not value rare treasures, you will stop others from stealing.
If people do not see desirables, they will not be agitated.

Therefore, when the sage governs,
He clears peoples minds,
Fills their bellies,
Weakens their ambition and
Strengthens their bones.

If the people are kept without cleverness and desire
It will make the intellectuals not dare to meddle.

Acting without contrivance, there is no lack of manageability.

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《老子》第四章

道冲，而用之或不盈。渊兮，似万物之宗；湛兮，似或存。吾不知谁之子，象帝之先。

The Tao is so vast that when you use it, something is always left.
How deep it is!
It seems to be the ancestor of the myriad things.
It blunts sharpness
Untangles knots
Softens the glare
Unifies with the mundane.
It is so full!
It seems to have remainder.

It is the child of I-don't-know-who.
And prior to the primeval Lord-on-high.

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《老子》第五章

天地不仁，以万物为刍狗；圣人不仁，以百姓为刍狗。

天地之间，其犹橐龠乎？虚而不屈，动而愈出。

多言数穷，不如守中。

Heaven and Earth are not jen,
And regard the people as straw dogs.
The sage is not jen,
And regards all things as straw dogs.
The space between Heaven and Earth is just like a bellows:
Empty it, it is not exhausted.
Squeeze it and more comes out.

Investigating it with a lot of talk
Is not like holding to the center.

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《老子》第六章

谷神不死，是谓玄牝。玄牝之门，是谓天地根。绵绵若存，用之不勤。

The valley spirit never dies.
It is called "the mysterious female."
The opening of the mysterious female
Is called "the root of Heaven and Earth."
Continuous, seeming to remain.

Use it without exertion.

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《老子》第七章

天长地久。天地所以能长且久者，以其不自生，故能长生。

是以圣人后其身而身先；外其身而身存。非以其无私邪？故能成其私。

Heaven and Earth last forever.
The reason that Heaven and Earth are able to last forever
Is because they do not give birth to themselves.
Therefore, they are always alive.
Hence, the sage puts herself last and is first.
She is outside herself and therefore her self lasts.

Is it not through her selflessness
That she is able to perfect herself?

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《老子》第八章

上善若水。水善利万物而不争，处众人之所恶，故几于道。

居善地，心善渊，与善仁，言善信，政善治，事善能，动善时。夫唯不争，故无尤。

The highest goodness is like water.
Water easily benefits all things without struggle.
Yet it abides in places that men hate.
Therefore it is like the Tao.

For dwelling, the Earth is good.
For the mind, depth is good.
The goodness of giving is in the timing.
The goodness of speech is in honesty.
In government, self-mastery is good.
In handling affairs, ability is good.

If you do not wrangle, you will not be blamed.

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《老子》第九章

持而盈之，不如其已；揣而锐之，不可长保。

金玉满堂，莫之能守；富贵而骄，自遗其咎。

功遂身退，天之道也。

To hold until full is not as good as stopping.
An oversharpened sword cannot last long.
A room filled with gold and jewels cannot be protected.
Boasting of wealth and virtue brings your demise.
After finishing the work, withdraw.

This is the Way of Heaven.

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《老子》第十章

载营魄抱一，能无离乎？专气致柔，能如婴儿乎？涤除玄鉴，能如疵乎？

爱国治民，能无为乎？天门开阖，能为雌乎？明白四达，能无知乎？

Pacifying the agitated material soul and holding to oneness:
Are you able to avoid separation?
Focusing your energy on the release of tension:
Can you be like an infant?
In purifying your insight:
Can you un-obstruct it?
Loving the people and ruling the state:
Can you avoid over-manipulation?
In opening and closing the gate of Heaven:
Can you be the female?
In illuminating the whole universe:
Can you be free of rationality?

Give birth to it and nourish it.
Produce it but don't possess it.
Act without expectation.
Excel, but don't take charge.

This is called Mysterious Virtue.

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《老子》第十一章

三十辐，共一毂，当其无，有车之用。埏埴以为器，当其无，有器之用。

凿户牖以为室，当其无，有室之用。故有之以为利，无之以为用。

Thirty spokes join together in the hub.
It is because of what is not there that the cart is useful.
Clay is formed into a vessel.
It is because of its emptiness that the vessel is useful.
Cut doors and windows to make a room.
It is because of its emptiness that the room is useful.
Therefore, what is present is used for profit.

But it is in absence that there is usefulness.

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《老子》第十二章

五色令人目盲；五音令人耳聋；五味令人口爽；

驰骋畋猎，令人心发狂；难得之货，令人行妨。

是以圣人为腹不为目，故去彼取此。

The five colors blind our eyes.
The five tones deafen our ears.
The five flavors confuse our taste.
Racing and hunting madden our minds.
Possessing rare treasures brings about harmful behavior.
Therefore the sage regards his center, and not his eyes.

He lets go of that and chooses this.

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《老子》第十三章

宠辱若惊，贵大患若身。

何谓宠辱若惊？宠为下，得之若惊，失之若惊，是谓宠辱若惊。

何谓贵大患若身？吾所以有大患者，为吾有身，及吾无身，吾有何患？

故贵以身为天下，若可寄天下；爱以身为天下，若可托天下。

Accept humiliation as a surprise.
Value great misfortune as your own self.

What do I mean by "Accept humiliation as a surprise"?
When you are humble
Attainment is a surprise
And so is loss.
That's why I say, "Accept humiliation as a surprise."

What do I mean by "Value great misfortune as your own self"?

If I have no self, how could I experience misfortune?

Therefore, if you dedicate your life for the benefit of the world,
You can rely on the world.
If you love dedicating yourself in this way,
You can be entrusted with the world.

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《老子》第十四章

视之不见，名曰夷；听之不闻，名曰希；搏之不得，名曰微。

此三者不可致诘，故混而为一。

其上不□，其下不昧。绳绳兮不可名，复归于物。

是谓无状之状，无物之象，是谓惚恍。迎之不见其首，随之不见其后。

执古之道，以御今之有。能知古始，是谓道纪。

Look for it, it cannot be seen.
It is called the distant.
Listen for it, it cannot be heard.
It is called the rare.
Reach for it, it cannot be gotten.
It is called the subtle.
These three ultimately cannot be fathomed.
Therefore they join to become one.

Its top is not bright;
Its bottom is not dark;
Existing continuously, it cannot be named and it returns to no-thingness.

Thus, it is called the formless form,
The image of no-thing.
This is called the most obscure.

Go to meet it, you cannot see its face.
Follow it, you cannot see its back.

By holding to the ancient Tao
You can manage present existence
And know the primordial beginning.

This is called the very beginning thread of the Tao.

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《老子》第十五章

古之善为道者，微妙玄通，深不可识。夫唯不可识，故强为之容：

豫兮若冬涉川；犹兮若畏四邻；俨兮其若客；涣兮其若凌释；

敦兮其若朴；旷兮其若谷；混兮其若浊；澹兮其若海；□兮若无止。

孰能浊以静之徐清？孰能安以动之徐生？

保此道者，不欲盈。夫唯不盈，故能蔽而新成。

The ancient masters of the Tao
Had subtle marvelous mystic penetration
A depth that cannot be known.
It is exactly because that they are unknowable
That we are forced to pay attention to their appearance.
Hesitant, like one crossing an ice-covered river.
Ready, like one afraid of his neighbors on all sides.
Dignified, like a guest.
Loose, like ice about to melt.
Straightforward, like an uncarved block of wood.
Open, like a valley.
Obscure, like muddy water.

Who can be muddled, and use clarity to gradually become lucid?
Who can be calm, and use constant application for eventual success?

The one who holds to this path does not crave fulfillment.
Precisely because he does not crave fulfillment
He can be shattered
And do without quick restitution.

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《老子》第十六章

致虚极，守静笃。万物并作，吾以观复。

夫物芸芸，各复归其根。归根曰静，静曰复命。复命曰常，知常曰明。不知常，妄作凶。

知常容，容乃公，公乃全，全乃天，天乃道，道乃久，没身不殆。

Effect emptiness to the extreme.
Keep stillness whole.
Myriad things act in concert.
I therefore watch their return.
All things flourish and each returns to its root.

Returning to the root is called quietude.
Quietude is called returning to life.
Return to life is called constant.
Knowing this constant is called illumination.
Acting arbitrarily without knowing the constant is harmful.
Knowing the constant is receptivity, which is impartial.

Impartiality is kingship.
Kingship is Heaven.
Heaven is Tao
Tao is eternal.

Though you lose the body, you do not die.

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《老子》第十七章

太上，不知有之；其次，亲而誉之；其次，畏之；其次，侮之。信不足焉，有不信焉。

悠兮其贵言。功成事遂，百姓皆谓：「我自然」。

From great antiquity forth they have known and possessed it.
Those of the next level loved and praised it.
The next were in awe of it.
And the next despised it.

If you lack sincerity no one will believe you.

How careful she is with her precious words!
When her work is complete and her job is finished,
Everybody says: "We did it!"

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《老子》第十八章

大道废，有仁义；智慧出，有大伪；六亲不和，有孝慈；国家昏乱，有忠臣。

When the great Tao perishes
There is jen and justice.
When intelligence is manifest
There is great deception.
When the six relationships are not in harmony
There is filial piety and compassion.
When the country is in chaos
Loyal ministers appear.

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《老子》第十九章

绝圣弃智，民利百倍；绝仁弃义，民复孝慈；绝巧弃利，盗贼无有。

此三者以为文，不足。故令有所属：见素抱朴，少思寡欲，绝学无忧。

Get rid of "holiness" and abandon "wisdom"
and the people will benefit a hundredfold.

Get rid of "altruism" and abandon "Justice"
and the people will return to filial piety and compassion.

Get rid of cleverness and abandon profit, and thieves and gangsters will not exist.

Since the above three are merely words, they are not sufficient.
Therefore there must be something to include them all.

See the origin and keep the non-differentiated state.
Lessen selfishness and decrease desire.

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《老子》第二十章

唯之与阿，相去几何？美之与恶，相去若何？人之所畏，不可不畏。荒兮，其未央哉！

众人熙熙，如享太牢，如春登台。

我独泊兮，其未兆；沌沌兮，如婴儿之未孩；累累兮，若无所归。

众人皆有馀，而我独若遗。我愚人之心也哉！

俗人昭昭，我独昏昏。俗人察察，我独闷闷。众人皆有以，而我独顽且鄙。

我独异于人，而贵食母。

Get rid of "learning" and there will be no anxiety.
How much difference is there between "yes" and "no"?
How far removed from each other are "good" and "evil"?
Yet what the people are in awe of cannot be disregarded.

I am scattered, never having been in a comfortable center.
All the people enjoy themselves, as if they are at the festival of the great sacrifice,
Or climbing the Spring Platform.
I alone remain, not yet having shown myself.
Like an infant who has not yet laughed.
Weary, like one despairing of no home to return to.

All the people enjoy extra
While I have left everything behind.
I am ignorant of the minds of others.
So dull!
While average people are clear and bright, I alone am obscure.
Average people know everything.
To me alone all seems covered.
So flat!
Like the ocean.
Blowing around!
It seems there is no place to rest.
Everybody has a goal in mind.
I alone am as ignorant as a bumpkin.
I alone differ from people.

I enjoy being nourished by the mother.

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《老子》第二十一章

孔德之容，惟道是从。

道之为物，惟恍惟惚。惚兮恍兮，其中有象；恍兮惚兮，其中有物。

窈兮冥兮，其中有精；其精甚真，其中有信。

自今及古，其名不去，以阅众甫。吾何以知众甫之状哉？以此。

The form of great virtue is something that only the Tao can follow.
The Tao as a "thing" is only vague and obscure.
How obscure! How vague! In it there is form.
How vague! How obscure! In it are things.
How deep! How dark! In it there is an essence.

The essence is so real--therein is belief.

From the present to antiquity, its name has never left it, so we can examine all origins.
How do I know the form of all origins?

By this.

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《老子》第二十二章

曲则全，枉则直，洼则盈，敝则新，少则多，多则惑。

是以圣人抱一为天下式。不自见，故明；不自是，故彰；不自伐，故有功；不自矜，故长。

夫唯不争，故天下莫能与之争。古之所谓「曲则全」者，岂虚言哉！诚全而归之。

The imperfect is completed.
The crooked is straightened.
The empty is filled.
The old is renewed.
With few there is attainment.
With much there is confusion.
Therefore the sage grasps the one and becomes the model for all.

She does not show herself, and therefore is apparent.
She does not affirm herself, and therefore is acknowledged.
She does not boast and therefore has merit.
She does not strive and is therefore successful.
It is exactly because she does not contend, that nobody can contend with her.

How could the ancient saying, "The imperfect is completed" be regarded as empty talk?

Believe in the complete and return to it.

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《老子》第二十三章

希言自然。

故飘风不终朝，骤雨不终日。孰为此者？天地。天地尚不能久，而况于人乎？

故从事于道者，同于道；德者，同于德；失者，同于失。

同于道者，道亦乐得之；同于德者，德亦乐得之；同于失者，失亦乐得之。

信不足焉，有不信焉。

To speak little is natural.
Therefore a gale does not blow a whole morning
Nor does a downpour last a whole day.
Who does these things? Heaven and Earth.
If even Heaven and Earth cannot force perfect continuity
How can people expect to?

Therefore there is such a thing as aligning one's actions with the Tao.
If you accord with the Tao you become one with it.
If you accord with virtue you become one with it.
If you accord with loss you become one with it.

The Tao accepts this accordance gladly.
Virtue accepts this accordance gladly.
Loss also accepts accordance gladly.

If you are untrustworthy, people will not trust you.

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《老子》第二十四章

企者不立；跨者不行；自见者不明；自是者不彰；自伐者无功；自矜者不长。

其在道也，曰：馀食赘形。物或恶之，故有道者不处。

Standing on tiptoe, you are unsteady.
Straddle-legged, you cannot go.
If you show yourself, you will not be seen.
If you affirm yourself, you will not shine.
If you boast, you will have no merit.
If you promote yourself, you will have no success.

Those who abide in the Tao call these

Leftover food and wasted action
And all things dislike them.

Therefore the person of the Tao does not act like this.

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《老子》第二十五章

有物混成，先天地生。寂兮寥兮，独立而不改，周行而不殆，可以为天地母。

吾不知其名，强字之曰道，强为之名曰大。大曰逝，逝曰远，远曰反。

故道大，天大，地大，人亦大。域中有四大，而人居其一焉。

人法地，地法天，天法道，道法自然。

There is something that is perfect in its disorder
Which is born before Heaven and Earth.

So silent and desolate! It establishes itself without renewal.
Functions universally without lapse.
We can regard it as the Mother of Everything.

I don't know its name.

Hence, when forced to name it, I call it "Tao."
When forced to categorize it, I call it "great."

Greatness entails transcendence.
Transcendence entails going-far.
Going-far entails return.

Hence, Tao is great, Heaven is great, the Earth is great
And the human is also great.

Within our realm there are four greatnesses and the human being is one of them.

Human beings follow the Earth.
Earth follows Heaven
Heaven follows the Tao
The Tao follows the way things are.

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《老子》第二十六章

重为轻根，静为躁君。

是以君子终日行不离辎重。虽有荣观，燕处超然。奈何万乘之主，而以身轻天下？

轻则失根，躁则失君。

Heaviness is the root of lightness.
Composure is the ruler of instability.
Therefore the sage travels all day
Without putting down his heavy load.
Though there may be spectacles to see
He easily passes them by.

This being so
How could the ruler of a large state
Be so concerned with himself as to ignore the people?

If you take them lightly you will lose your roots.
If you are unstable, you will lose your rulership.

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《老子》第二十七章

善行无辙迹，善言无瑕谪；善数不用筹策；善闭无关楗而不可开，善结无绳约而不可解。

是以圣人常善救人，故无弃人；常善救物，故无弃物。是谓袭明。

故善人者，不善人之师；不善人者，善人之资。不贵其师，不爱其资，虽智大迷，是谓要妙。

A good traveler leaves no tracks.
Good speech lacks faultfinding.
A good counter needs no calculator.
A well-shut door will stay closed without a latch.
Skillful fastening will stay tied without knots.

It is in this manner that the sage is always skillful in elevating people.
Therefore she does not discard anybody.

She is always skillful in helping things
Therefore she does not discard anything.
This is called "the actualization of her luminosity."

Hence, the good are the teachers of the not-so-good.
And the not-so-good are the charges of the good.

Not valuing your teacher or not loving your students:
Even if you are smart, you are gravely in error.

This is called Essential Subtlety.

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《老子》第二十八章

知其雄，守其雌，为天下溪。为天下溪，常德不离，复归于婴儿。

知其白，守其辱，为天下谷。为天下谷，常德乃足，复归于朴。

知其白，守其黑，为天下式。为天下式，常德不忒，复归于无极。

朴散则为器，圣人用之，则为官长，故大智不割。

Know the Masculine, cleave to the Feminine
Be the valley for everyone.
Being the valley for everyone
You are always in virtue without lapse
And you return to infancy.

Know the White, cleave to the Black
Be a model for everyone.
Being the model for everyone
You are always in virtue and free from error
You return to limitlessness.
Know Glory but cleave to Humiliation
Be the valley for everyone.
When your constancy in virtue is complete
You return to the state of the "uncarved block."

The block is cut into implements.
The sage uses them to fulfill roles.

Therefore the great tailor does not cut.

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《老子》第二十九章

将欲取天下而为之，吾见其不得已。天下神器，不可为也，不可执也。为者败之，执者失之。

是以圣人无为，故无败；无执，故无失。

夫物或行或随；或嘘或吹；或强或羸；或载或隳。

是以圣人去甚，去奢，去泰。

If you want to grab the world and run it
I can see that you will not succeed.
The world is a spiritual vessel, which can't be controlled.

Manipulators mess things up.
Grabbers lose it. Therefore:

Sometimes you lead
Sometimes you follow
Sometimes you are stifled
Sometimes you breathe easy
Sometimes you are strong
Sometimes you are weak
Sometimes you destroy
And sometimes you are destroyed.

Hence, the sage shuns excess
Shuns grandiosity
Shuns arrogance.

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《老子》第三十章

以道佐人主者，不以兵强天下。其事好远。师之所处，荆棘生焉。大军之后，必有凶年。

善有果而已，不以取强。果而勿矜，果而勿伐，果而勿骄。果而不得已，果而勿强。

物壮则老，是谓不道，不道早已。

If you used the Tao as a principle for ruling
You would not dominate the people by military force.

What goes around comes around.

Where the general has camped
Thorns and brambles grow.
In the wake of a great army
Come years of famine.
If you know what you are doing
You will do what is necessary and stop there.

Accomplish but don't boast
Accomplish without show
Accomplish without arrogance
Accomplish without grabbing
Accomplish without forcing.

When things flourish they decline.

This is called non-Tao
The non-Tao is short-lived.

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《老子》第三十一章

夫兵者，不祥之器，物或恶之，故有道者不处。

君子居则贵左，用兵则贵右。兵者不祥之器，非君子之器，不得已而用之，恬淡为上。

胜而不美，而美之者，是乐杀人。夫乐杀人者，则不可得志于天下矣。

吉事尚左，凶事尚右。偏将军居左，上将军居右，言以丧礼处之。

杀人之众，以悲哀泣之，战胜以丧礼处之。

Sharp weapons are inauspicious instruments.
Everyone hates them.
Therefore the man of the Tao is not comfortable with them.

In the domestic affairs of the gentleman
The left is the position of honor.
In military affairs the right is the position of honor.
Since weapons are inauspicious instruments, they are not the instruments of the gentleman
So he uses them without enjoyment
And values plainness.

Victory is never sweet.

Those for whom victory is sweet
Are those who enjoy killing.
If you enjoy killing, you cannot gain the trust of the people.

On auspicious occasions the place of honor is on the left.
On inauspicious occasions the place of honor is on the right.
The lieutenant commander stands on the left.
The commander-in-chief stands on the right.
And they speak, using the funerary rites to bury them.

The common people, from whom all the dead have come
Weep in lamentation.
The victors bury them with funerary rites.

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《老子》第三十二章

道常无名朴。虽小，天下莫能臣。侯王若能守之，万物将自宾。

天地相合，以降甘露，民莫之令而自均。

始制有名，名亦既有，夫亦将知止，知止可以不殆。

譬道之在天下，犹川谷之于江海。

The Tao is always nameless.
And even though a sapling might be small
No one can make it be his subject.
If rulers could embody this principle
The myriad things would follow on their own.
Heaven and Earth would be in perfect accord
And rain sweet dew.

People, unable to deal with It on its own terms
Make adjustments;
And so you have the beginning of division into names.
Since there are already plenty of names
You should know where to stop.
Knowing where to stop, you can avoid danger.

The Tao's existence in the world

Is like valley streams running into the rivers and seas.

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《老子》第三十三章

知人者智，自知者明。胜人者有力，自胜者强。

知足者富。强行者有志。不失其所者久。死而不亡者寿。

If you understand others you are smart.
If you understand yourself you are illuminated.
If you overcome others you are powerful.
If you overcome yourself you have strength.
If you know how to be satisfied you are rich.
If you can act with vigor, you have a will.
If you don't lose your objectives you can be long-lasting.

If you die without loss, you are eternal.

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《老子》第三十四章

大道泛兮，其可左右。万物恃之以生而不辞，功成而不有。

衣养万物而不为主，可名于小；万物归焉而不为主，可名为大。

以其终不自为大，故能成其大。

The Tao is like a great flooding river. How can it be directed to the left or right? The myriad things rely on it for their life but do not distinguish it.
It brings to completion but cannot be said to exist.
It clothes and feeds all things without lording over them.

It is always desireless, so we call it "the small."
The myriad things return to it and it doesn't exact lordship
Thus it can be called "great."
Till the end, it does not regard itself as Great.

Therefore it actualizes its greatness.

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《老子》第三十五章

执大象，天下往。往而不害，安平泰。

乐与饵，过客止。道之出口，淡乎其无味，视之不足见，听之不足闻，用之不足既。

Holding to the Great Form
All pass away.
They pass away unharmed, resting in Great Peace.

It is for food and music that the passing traveler stops.

When the Tao appears from its opening
It is so subtle, it has no taste.
Look at it, you cannot see it.
Listen, you cannot hear it.
Use it

You cannot exhaust it.

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《老子》第三十六章

将欲歙之，必故张之；将欲弱之，必故强之；将欲废之，必故兴之；将欲取之，必故与之。

是谓微明。柔弱胜刚强。鱼不可脱于渊，国之利器不可以示人。

That which will be shrunk
Must first be stretched.
That which will be weakened
Must first be strengthened.
That which will be torn down
Must first be raised up.
That which will be taken
Must first be given.

This is called "subtle illumination."

The gentle and soft overcomes the hard and aggressive.

A fish cannot leave the water.

The country's potent weapons
Should not be shown to its people.

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《老子》第三十七章

道常无为而无不为。侯王若能守之，万物将自化。

化而欲作，吾将镇之以无名之朴。镇之以无名之朴，夫将不欲。不欲以静，天下将自正。

The Tao is always "not-doing"
Yet there is nothing it doesn't do.
If the ruler is able to embody it
Everything will naturally change.

Being changed, they desire to act.

So I must restrain them, using the nameless "uncarved block (original mind)."

Using the nameless uncarved block
They become desireless.
Desireless, they are tranquil and
All-under-Heaven is naturally settled.

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《老子》第三十八章

上德不德，是以有德；下德不失德，是以无德。上德无为而无以为；下德无为而有以为。

上仁为之而无以为；上义为之而有以为。上礼为之而莫之应，则攘臂而扔之。

故失道而后德，失德而后仁，失仁而后义，失义而后礼。夫礼者，忠信之薄，而乱之首。

前识者，道之华，而愚之始。是以大丈夫处其厚，不居其薄；处其实，不居其华。故去彼取此。

True virtue is not virtuous
Therefore it has virtue.
Superficial virtue never fails to be virtuous
Therefore it has no virtue.

True virtue does not "act"
And has no intentions.
Superficial virtue "acts"
And always has intentions.
True jen "acts"
But has no intentions.
True righteousness "acts"
But but has intentions.
True propriety "acts" and if you don't respond

They will roll up their sleeves and threaten you.

Thus, when the Tao is lost there is virtue
When virtue is lost there is jen
When jen is lost there is Justice
And when Justice is lost there is propriety.

Now "propriety" is the external appearance of loyalty and sincerity
And the beginning of disorder.

Occult abilities are just flowers of the Tao
And the beginning of foolishness.

Therefore the Master dwells in the substantial
And not in the superficial.
Rests in the fruit and not in the flower.

So let go of that and grasp this.

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《老子》第三十九章

昔之得一者：天得一以清；地得一以宁；神得一以灵；谷得一以生；侯得一以为天下正。

其致之也，谓天无以清，将恐裂；地无以宁，将恐废；神无以灵，将恐歇；

谷无以盈，将恐竭；万物无以生，将恐灭；侯王无以正，将恐蹶。

故贵以贱为本，高以下为基。是以侯王自称孤、寡、不谷。此非以贱为本邪？非乎？

故致誉无誉。是故不欲□□如玉，珞珞如石。

These in the past have attained wholeness:

Heaven attains wholeness with its clarity;
The Earth attains wholeness with its firmness;
The Spirit attains wholeness with its transcendence;
The Valley attain wholeness when filled;
The Myriad Things attain wholeness in life;
The Ruler attains wholeness in the correct governance of the people.

In effecting this:
If Heaven lacked clarity it would be divided;
If the Earth lacked firmness it would fly away;
If the spirit lacked transcendence it would be exhausted;
If the valley lacked fullness it would be depleted;
If the myriad things lacked life they would vanish.
If the ruler lacks nobility and loftiness he will be tripped up.

Hence
Nobility has lowliness as its root
The High has the Low as its base.
Thus the kings call themselves "the orphan, the lowly, the unworthy."

Is this not taking lowliness as the fundamental? Isn't it?

In this way you can bring about great effect without burden.
Not desiring the rarity of gems
Or the manyness of grains of sand.

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《老子》第四十章

反者道之动；弱者道之用。天下万物生于有，有生于无。

Return is the motion of the Tao.
Softening is its function.
All things in the cosmos arise from being.
Being arises from non-being.

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《老子》第四十一章

上士闻道，勤而行之；中士闻道，若存若亡；下士闻道，大笑之。不笑不足以为道。

故建言有之：明道若昧；进道若退；夷道若□；上德若谷；广德若不足；建德若偷；质真若渝；

大白若辱；大方无隅；大器晚成；大音希声；大象无形；道隐无名。

夫唯道，善贷且成。

When superior students hear of the Tao
They strive to practice it.
When middling students hear of the Tao
They sometimes keep it and sometimes lose it.
When inferior students hear of the Tao
They have a big laugh.

But "not laughing" in itself is not sufficient to be called the Tao, and therefore it is said:

The sparkling Tao seems dark
Advancing in the Tao seems like regression.
Settling into the Tao seems rough.
True virtue is like a valley.
The immaculate seems humble.
Extensive virtue seems insufficient.
Established virtue seems deceptive.
The face of reality seems to change.
The great square has no corners.
Great ability takes a long time to perfect.
Great sound is hard to hear.
The great form has no shape.

The Tao is hidden and nameless.

This is exactly why the Tao is good at developing and perfecting.

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《老子》第四十二章

道生一，一生二，二生三，三生万物。万物负阴而抱阳，冲气以为和。

人之所恶，唯孤、寡、不谷，而王公以为称。

故物或损之而益，或益之而损。

人之所教，我亦教之。强梁者不得其死，吾将以为教父。

The Tao produces one, one produces two.
The two produce the three and the three produce all things.
All things submit to yin and embrace yang.
They soften their energy to achieve harmony.

People hate to think of themselves as "orphan," "lowly," and "unworthy"
Yet the kings call themselves by these names.

Some lose and yet gain,
Others gain and yet lose.
That which is taught by the people
I also teach:
"The forceful do not choose their place of death."
I regard this as the father of all teachings.

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《老子》第四十三章

天下之至柔，驰骋天下之至坚。无有入无间，吾是以知无为之有益。

不言之教，无为之益，天下希及之。

The softest thing in the world
Will overcome the hardest.
Non-being can enter where there is no space.
Therefore I know the benefit of unattached action.
The wordless teaching and unattached action

Are rarely seen.

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《老子》第四十四章

名与身孰亲？身与货孰多？得与亡孰病？甚爱必大费；多藏必厚亡。

故知足不辱，知止不殆，可以长久。

Which is dearer, fame or your life?
Which is greater, your life or possessions?
Which is more painful, gain or loss?
Therefore we always pay a great price for excessive love
And suffer deep loss for great accumulation.
Knowing what is enough, you will not be humiliated.
Knowing where to stop, you will not be imperiled

And can be long-lasting.

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《老子》第四十五章

大成若缺，其用不弊。大盈若冲，其用不穷。大直若屈，大巧若拙，大辩若讷。

静胜躁，寒胜热。清静为天下正。

Great perfection seems flawed, yet functions without a hitch.
Great fullness seems empty, yet functions without exhaustion.
Great straightness seems crooked,
Great skill seems clumsy,
Great eloquence seems stammering.

Excitement overcomes cold, stillness overcomes heat.
Clarity and stillness set everything right.

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《老子》第四十六章

天下有道，却走马以粪。天下无道，戎马生于郊。

祸莫大于不知足；咎莫大于欲得。故知足之足，常足矣。

When the Tao prevails in the land
The horses leisurely graze and fertilize the ground.
When the Tao is lacking in the land
War horses are bred outside the city.
Natural disasters are not as bad as not knowing what is enough.
Loss is not as bad as wanting more.

Therefore the sufficiency that comes from knowing what is enough is an eternal sufficiency.

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《老子》第四十七章

不出户，知天下；不窥牖，见天道。其出弥远，其知弥少。

是以圣人不行而知，不见而明，不为而成。

Without going out the door, knowing everything,
Without peaking out the windowshades, seeing the Way of Heaven.

The further you go, the less you know.

The sage understands without having to go through the whole process.
She is famous without showing herself.
Is perfected without striving.

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《老子》第四十八章

为学日益，为道日损。损之又损，以至于无为。

无为而无不为。取天下常以无事，及其有事，不足以取天下。

In studying, each day something is gained.
In following the Tao, each day something is lost.
Lost and again lost.
Until there is nothing left to do.
Not-doing, nothing is left undone.
You can possess the world by never manipulating it.
No matter how much you manipulate
You can never possess the world.

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《老子》第四十九章

圣人常无心，以百姓心为心。

善者，吾善之；不善者，吾亦善之；德善。

信者，吾信之；不信者，吾亦信之；德信。

圣人在天下，歙歙焉，为天下浑其心，百姓皆注其耳目，圣人皆孩之。

The sage has no fixed mind,
She takes the mind of the people as her mind.

I treat the good as good, I also treat the evil as good.
This is true goodness.
I trust the trustworthy, I also trust the untrustworthy.
This is real trust.

When the sage lives with people, she harmonizes with them
And conceals her mind for them.
The sages treat them as their little children.

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《老子》第五十章

出生入死。生之徒，十有三；死之徒，十有三；人之生，动之于死地，亦十有三。

夫何故？以其生之厚。

盖闻善摄生者，路行不遇兕虎，入军不被甲兵；无所投其角，虎无所用其爪，兵无所容其刃。

夫何故？以其无死地。

Coming into life and entering death,
The followers of life are three in ten.
The followers of death are three in ten.
Those whose life activity is their death ground are three in ten.
Why is this?
Because they live life grasping for its rich taste.

Now I have heard that those who are expert in handling life
Can travel the land without meeting tigers and rhinos,
Can enter battle without being wounded.
The rhino has no place to plant its horn,
The tiger has no place to place its claws,
Weapons find no place to receive their sharp edges.
Why?

Because he has no death-ground.

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《老子》第五十一章

道生之，德畜之，物形之，势成之。是以万物莫不尊道而贵德。

道之尊，德之贵，夫莫之命而常自然。

故道生之，德畜之；长之育之；成之熟之；养之覆之。生而不有，为而不恃，长而不宰。

是谓玄德。

Tao gives birth to it,
Virtue rears it,
Materiality shapes it,
Activity perfects it.
Therefore, there are none of the myriad things who do not venerate the Tao or esteem its virtue.
This veneration of the Tao and esteeming of its virtue is something they do naturally, without being forced.
Therefore, Tao gives birth.
Its virtue rears, develops, raises, adjusts and disciplines,
Nourishes, covers and protects,
Produces but does not possess,
Acts without expectation,
Leads without forcing.

This is called "Mysterious Virtue."

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《老子》第五十二章

天下有始，以为天下母。既得其母，以知其子，复守其母，没身不殆。

塞其兑，闭其门，终身不勤。开其兑，济其事，终身不救。见小曰明，守柔曰强。

用其光，复归其明，无遗身殃；是为袭常。

All things have a beginning, which we can regard as their Mother.
Knowing the mother, we can know its children.
Knowing the children, yet still cleaving to the mother
You can die without pain.

Stop up the holes
Shut the doors,
You can finish your life without anxiety.

Open the doors,
Increase your involvements,
In the end you can't be helped.

Seeing the subtle is called illumination.
Keeping flexible is called strength.
Use the illumination, but return to the light.
Don't bring harm to yourself.

This is called "practicing the eternal."

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《老子》第五十三章

使我介然有知，行于大道，唯施是畏。大道甚夷，而人好径。

朝甚除，田甚芜，仓甚虚；服文采，带利剑，厌饮食，财货有馀；是为盗夸。非道也哉！

If I had just a little bit of wisdom
I should walk the Great Path and fear only straying from it.
Though the Way is quite broad
People love shortcuts.

The court is immaculate,
While the fields are overgrown with weeds,
And the granaries are empty.
They wear silk finery,
Carry sharp swords,
Sate themselves on food and drink
Having wealth in excess.
They are called thieving braggarts.

This is definitely not the Way.

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《老子》第五十四章

善建者不拔，善抱者不脱，子孙以祭祀不辍。

修之于身，其德乃真；修之于家，其德乃馀；修之于乡，其德乃长；修之于邦，其德乃丰；

修之于天下，其德乃普。

故以身观身，以家观家，以乡观乡，以邦观邦，以天下观天下。吾何以知天下然哉？以此。

The well-established cannot be uprooted.
The well-grasped does not slip away.
Generation after generation carries out the ancestor worship without break.

Cultivate it in yourself and virtue will be real.
Cultivate it in the family and virtue will overflow.
Cultivate it in the town and virtue will be great.
Cultivate it in the country and virtue will abundant.
Cultivate it in the world and virtue will be everywhere.

Therefore, take yourself and observe yourself.
Take the family and observe the family.
Take the town and observe the town.
Take the country and observe the country.
Take the world and observe the world.

How do I know the world as it is?

By this.

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《老子》第五十五章

含「德」之厚，比于赤子。毒虫不螫，猛兽不据，攫鸟不搏。骨弱筋柔而握固。

未知牝牡之合而□作，精之至也。终日号而不嗄，和之至也。

知和曰「常」，知常曰「明」。益生曰祥。心使气曰强。物壮则老，谓之不道，不道早已。

One who remains rich in virtuous power
Is like a newborn baby.
Bees, scorpions and venomous snakes do not bite it,
The wild beasts do not attack it,
Birds of prey do not sink their claws into it.
Though its bones are weak
And muscles soft,
Its grip is strong.
Without knowing of the blending of male and female
S/he is a perfect production,
The ultimate in vitality.
S/he cries all day without getting hoarse.
S/he is the ultimate in harmony.

Understanding harmony is called the Constant.
Knowing the Constant is called illumination.
Nourishing life is called blessing.
Having control of your breath is called strength.

After things blossom they decay, and
This is called the non-Tao.

The non-Tao expires quickly.

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《老子》第五十六章

知者不言，言者不知。挫其锐，解其纷，和其光，同其尘，是谓「玄同」。

故不可得而亲，不可得而疏；不可得而利，不可得而害；不可得而贵，不可得而贱。

故为天下贵。

She who knows does not speak.
She who speaks does not know.
Close your holes, shut your doors,
Soften your sharpness, loosen your knots.
Soften your glare and merge with the everyday.

This is called mysteriously attaining oneness.

Though you cannot possess it, you are intimate with it
And at the same time, distant.
Though you cannot possess it, you are benefitted by it,
And harmed by it.
You cannot possess it, but are esteemed through it
And humbled by it.

Therefore the world values you.

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《老子》第五十七章

以正治国，以奇用兵，以无事取天下。吾何以知其然哉？以此：

天下多忌讳，而民弥贫；人多利器，国家滋昏；人多伎巧，奇物滋起；法令滋彰，盗贼多有。

故圣人云：「我无为，而民自化；我好静，而民自正；我无事，而民自富；我无欲，而民自朴。」

Use fairness in governing the state.
Use surprise tactics in war.
Be unconcerned and you will have the world.
How do I know it is like this?
Because:
The more regulations there are,
The poorer people become.
The more people own lethal weapons,
The more darkened are the country and clans.
The more clever the people are,
The more extraordinary actions they take.
The more picky the laws are,
The more thieves and gangsters there are.

Therefore the sages say:
"I do not force my way and the people transform themselves.
I enjoy my serenity and the people correct themselves.
I do not interfere and the people enrich themselves.

I have no desires

And the people find their original mind.

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《老子》第五十八章

其政闷闷，其民淳淳；其政察察，其民缺缺。

是以圣人方而不割，廉而不刿，直而不肆，光而不耀。

祸兮福之所倚，福兮祸之所伏。孰知其极？其无正也。正复为奇，善复为妖。

人之迷，其日固久。

When the government is laid back
The people are relaxed.
When the government is nitpicking
The people have anxiety.
Misfortune depends upon fortune.
Fortune conceals misfortune.
What has a definite delimitation?
Or abnormality?
The normal reverts to strangeness.
Goodness reverts to perversion.

People certainly have been confused for a long time.

Therefore the sage squares things without cutting.
Edges without separating.
Straightens without lining up.

Shines but does not glare.

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《老子》第五十九章

治人事天，莫若啬。夫为啬，是谓早服；早服谓之重积德；重积德则无不克；

无不克则莫知其极；莫知其极，可以有国；有国之母，可以长久；

是谓深根固柢，长生久视之道。

In governing the country and serving Heaven
There is nothing like frugality.
Only by being frugal can you recover quickly.
When you recover quickly you accumulate virtue.
Having accumulated virtue,
There is nothing you can't overcome.
When there is nothing you can't overcome
Who knows the limits of your capabilities?
These limits being unfathomable
You can possess the country.

The Mother who possesses the country can be long-living.
This is called "planting the roots deeply and firmly."

The way to long life and eternal vision.

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《老子》第六十章

治大国，若烹小鲜。

以道莅天下，其鬼不神；非其鬼不神，其神不伤人；非其神不伤人，圣人亦不伤人。

夫两不相伤，故德交归焉。

Ruling a large country is like cooking a small fish.
When you govern people with the Tao
Demons will have no power.
Not that they don't have power,
But their power will not harm people.

Since the sage doesn't harm people,
The two will not harm each other.

Here their power merges and returns.

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《老子》第六十一章

大邦者下流，天下之牝，天下之交也。牝常以静胜牡，以静为下。

故大邦以下小邦，则取小邦；小邦以下大邦，则取大邦。

故或下以取，或下而取。大邦不过欲兼畜人，小邦不过欲入事人。

夫两者各得所欲，大者宜为下。

The great state should be like a river basin.
The mixing place of the world,
The feminine of the world.
The feminine always overcomes the masculine by softness
Because softness is lesser.
Therefore if a large state serves a small state
It will gain the small state.
If a small state serves a large state
It will gain the large state.

Therefore some serve in order to gain
And some gain despite their servitude.

The large state wants nothing more
Than to unite and feed its people.
The small state wants nothing more
Than to enter into the service of the right person.
Thus both get what they want.

Greatness lies in placing oneself below.

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《老子》第六十二章

道者万物之奥。善人之宝，不善人之所保。

美言可以市尊，美行可以加人。人之不善，何弃之有？

故立天子，置三公，虽有拱璧以先驷马，不如坐进此道。

古之所以贵此道者何？不曰：求以得，有罪以免邪？故为天下贵。

The Tao is hidden deeply in all things.
It is the treasure of the good
And the refuge of the not-so-good.
With skillful words you can be successful.
With honorable actions you can be included.

People may not be so good, but how can you deny them?

Therefore, even though there are great jewels brought in by teams of horses at the coronation of the emperor and the installation of the three princes,
This is not as good as staying where you are
And advancing in this Tao.

Why did the ancients so value the Tao?

You can't say that it was for seeking gain
Or to have punishments to deter crime.

Therefore it is the most prized in the world.

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《老子》第六十三章

为无为，事无事，味无味。

图难于其易，为大于其细；天下难事，必作于易，天下大事，必作于细。

是以圣人终不为大，故能成其大。

夫轻诺必寡信，多易必多难。是以圣人犹难之，故终无难矣。

Do without "doing."
Get involved without manipulating.
Taste without tasting.
Make the great small,
The many, few.
Respond to anger with virtue.
Deal with difficulties while they are still easy.
Handle the great while it is still small.

The difficult problems in life
Always start off being simple.
Great affairs always start off being small.
Therefore the sage never deals with the great
And is able to actualize his greatness.

Now light words generate little belief,
Much ease turns into much difficulty.
Therefore the sage treats things as though they were difficult,

And hence, never has difficulty.

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《老子》第六十四章

其安易持，其未兆易谋。其脆易泮，其微易散。为之于未有，治之于未乱。

合抱之木，生于毫末；九层之台，起于累土；千里之行，始于足下。

民之从事，常于几成而败之。慎终如始，则无败事。

That which is at rest is easy to grasp.
That which has not yet come about is easy to plan for.
That which is fragile is easily broken.
That which is minute is easily scattered.
Handle things before they arise.
Manage affairs before they are in a mess.

A thick tree grows from a tiny seed.
A tall building arises from a mound of earth.
A journey of a thousand miles starts with one step.
Contriving, you are defeated;
Grasping, you lose.

The sage doesn't contrive, so she isn't beaten.
Not grasping, she doesn't lose.
When people are carrying out their projects
They usually blow it at the end.

If you are as careful at the end
As you were at the beginning,
You won't be disappointed.

Therefore the sage desires non-desire,
Does not value rare goods,
Studies the unlearnable
So that she can correct the mistakes of average people
And aid all things in manifesting their true nature

Without presuming to take the initiative.

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《老子》第六十五章

古之善为道者，非以明民，将以愚之。

民之难治，以其智多。故以智治国，国之贼；不以智治国，国之福。

知此两者亦稽式。常知稽式，是谓「玄德」。「玄德」深矣，远矣，与物反矣，然后乃至大顺。

The ancients who were skillful at the Tao
Did not illuminate the people
But rather kept them simple.
When the people are difficult to rule
It is because of their cleverness.
Therefore
If you use cleverness to rule the state
You are a robber of the state.
If you don't use cleverness to rule the state
You are a blessing to the state.

If you understand these two points, you know the proper norm for governing To be continuously understanding the proper norm is called
Mysterious Virtue.
How deep and far-reaching Mysterious Virtue is!
It makes all return

Until they reach the Great Norm.

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《老子》第六十六章

江海之所以能为百谷王者，以其善下之，故能为百谷王。

是以圣人欲上民，必以言下之；欲先民，必以身后之。

是以圣人处上而民不重，处前而民不害。是以天下乐推而不厌。

以其不争，故天下莫能与之争。

The reason the river and sea can be regarded as
The rulers of all the valley streams
Is because of their being below them.
Therefore they can be their rulers.
So if you want to be over people
You must speak humbly to them.
If you want to lead them
You must place yourself behind them.

Thus the sage is positioned above
And the people do not feel oppressed.
He is in front and they feel nothing wrong.
Therefore they like to push him front and never resent him.

Since he does not contend

No one can contend with him.

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《老子》第六十七章

天下皆谓我道大，似不肖。夫唯大，故似不肖。若肖，久矣其细也夫！

我有三宝，持而保之。一曰慈，二曰俭，三曰不敢为天下先。

慈故能勇；俭故能广；不敢为天下先，故能成器长。

今舍慈且勇；舍俭且广；舍后且先；死矣！

夫慈以战则胜，以守则固。天将救之，以慈卫之。

The reason everybody calls my Tao great
Is because there is nothing quite like it.
It is exactly because it is great
That there is nothing quite like it.
If there were something that were consistently like it

How could it be small?

I have three treasures which I hold and cherish.
The first is compassion,
The second is frugality,
The third is not daring to put myself ahead of everybody.

Having compassion, I can be brave.
Having frugality, I can be generous.
Not daring to put myself ahead of everybody
I can take the time to perfect my abilities.
Now if I am brave without compassion
Generous without frugality, or
Go to the fore without putting my own concerns last,
I might as well be dead.

If you wage war with compassion you will win.
If you protect yourself with compassion you will be impervious.
Heaven will take care of you,

Protecting you with compassion.

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《老子》第六十八章

善为士者，不武；善战者，不怒；善胜敌者，不与；善用人者，为之下。

是谓不争之德，是谓用人之力，是谓配天古之极。

The best warrior is never aggressive.
The best fighter is never angry.
The best tactician does not engage the enemy.
The best utilizer of people's talents places himself below them.

This is called the virtue of non-contention.
It is called the ability to engage people's talents.
It is called the ultimate in merging with Heaven.

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《老子》第六十九章

用兵有言：「吾不敢为主，而为客；不敢进寸，而退尺。」

是谓行无行；攘无臂；扔无敌；执无兵。

祸莫大于轻敌，轻敌几丧吾宝。故抗兵相若，哀者胜矣。

Strategists have a saying:
"I prefer to be able to move, rather than be in a fixed position
Prefer to retreat a foot rather than advancing an inch."
This is called progress without advancing;
Preparing without showing off;
Smashing where there is no defense;
Taking him without a fight.

There is no greater danger than under-estimating your opponent.
If I under-estimate my opponent
I will lose that which is most dear.
Therefore
When opponents clash

The one who is sorry about it will be the winner.

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《老子》第七十章

吾言甚易知，甚易行。天下莫能知，莫能行。

言有宗，事有君。夫唯无知，是以不我知。

知我者希，则我者贵。是以圣人被褐而怀玉。

My words are easy to understand
And easy to practice.
Yet nobody understands them or practices them.
My words have an origin;
My actions have a principle.
It is only because of your not understanding this
That you do not understand me.
Since there are few who understand me
I am valued.
Therefore the sage wears coarse clothes.
Yet hides a jewel in his bosom.

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《老子》第七十一章

知不知，尚矣；不知知，病也。圣人不病，以其病病。夫唯病病，是以不病。

There is nothing better than to know that you don't know.
Not knowing, yet thinking you know--
This is sickness.
Only when you are sick of being sick
Can you be cured.
The sage's not being sick

Is because she is sick of sickness.

Therefore she is not sick.

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《老子》第七十二章

民不畏威，则大威至。

无狎其所居，无厌其所生。夫唯不厌，是以不厌。

是以圣人自知不自见；自爱不自贵。故去彼取此。

When the people do not fear your might
Then your might has truly become great.
Don't interfere with their household affairs.
Don't oppress their livelihood.

If you don't oppress them they won't feel oppressed.

Thus the sage understands herself
But does not show herself.
Loves herself
But does not prize herself.
Therefore she lets go of that

And takes this.

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《老子》第七十三章

勇于敢则杀，勇于不敢则活。此两者，或利或害。天之所恶，孰知其故？

天之道，不争而善胜，不言而善应，不召而自来，□然而善谋。天网恢恢，疏而不失。

If you are courageous in daring you will die.
If you are courageous in not-daring you will live.
Among these two, one is beneficial and the other is harmful.

Who understands the reason why Heaven dislikes what it dislikes?
Even the sage has difficulty in knowing this.

The Way of Heaven is to win easily without struggle.
To respond well without words,
To naturally come without special invitation,
To plan well without anxiety.

Heaven's net is vast.
It is loose.

Yet nothing slips through.

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《老子》第七十四章

民不畏死，奈何以死惧之？若使民常畏死，而为奇者，吾得执而杀之，孰敢？

常有司杀者杀。夫代司杀者杀，是谓代大匠□，夫代大匠□者，希有不伤其手矣。

If the people don't fear death
How will you scare them with death?
If you make the people continuously fear death
By seizing anybody who does something out of the ordinary
And killing them,
Who will dare to move?

There is always an official executioner to handle this.
If you play the role of the official executioner
It is like cutting wood in the capacity of Master Carpenter.

There are few who will not cut their hands.

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《老子》第七十五章

民之饥，以其上食税之多，是以饥。

民之难治，以其上之有为，是以难治。

民之轻死，以其上求生之厚，是以轻死。

夫唯无以生为者，是贤于贵生。

The reason people starve
Is because their rulers tax them excessively.
They are difficult to govern
Because their rulers have their own ends in mind.

The reason people take death lightly
Is because they want life to be rich.
Therefore they take death lightly.
It is only by not living for your own ends
That you can go beyond valuing life.

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《老子》第七十六章

人之生也柔弱，其死也坚强。草木之生也柔脆，其死也枯槁。

故坚强者死之徒，柔弱者生之徒。

是以兵强则灭，木强则折。强大处下，柔弱处上。

When people are born they are gentle and soft.
At death they are hard and stiff.
When plants are alive they are soft and delicate.
When they die, they wither and dry up.
Therefore the hard and stiff are followers of death.
The gentle and soft are the followers of life.

Thus, if you are aggressive and stiff, you won't win.
When a tree is hard enough, it is cut. Therefore
The hard and big are lesser,
The gentle and soft are greater.

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《老子》第七十七章

天之道，其犹张弓欤？高者抑之，下者举之；有馀者损之，不足者补之。

天之道，损有馀而补不足。人之道，则不然，损不足以奉有馀。

孰能有馀以奉天下，唯有道者。

是以圣人为而不恃，功成而不处，其不欲见贤。

The Way of Heaven
Is like stretching a bow.
The top is pulled down,
The bottom is pulled up.
Excess string is removed
Where more is needed, it is added.

It is the Way of Heaven
To remove where there is excess
And add where there is lack.
The way of people is different:
They take away where there is need
And add where there is surplus.

Who can take his surplus and give it to the people?
Only one who possesses the Tao.

Therefore the sage acts without expectation.
Does not abide in his accomplishments.
Does not want to show his virtue.

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《老子》第七十八章

天下莫柔弱于水，而攻坚强者莫之能胜，以其无以易之。

弱之胜强，柔之胜刚，天下莫不知，莫能行。

是以圣人云：「受国之垢，是谓社稷主；受国不祥，是为天下王。」正言若反。

Nothing in the world is softer than water,
Yet nothing is better at overcoming the hard and strong.
This is because nothing can alter it.

That the soft overcomes the hard
And the gentle overcomes the aggressive
Is something that everybody knows
But none can do themselves.
Therefore the sages say:
"The one who accepts the dirt of the state
Becomes its master.
The one who accepts its calamity
Becomes king of the world.

Truth seems contradictory.

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《老子》第七十九章

和大怨，必有馀怨；报怨以德，安可以为善？

是以圣人执左契，而不责于人。有德司契，无德司彻。

天道无亲，常与善人。

After calming great anger
There are always resentments left over.
How can this be considered as goodness?
Therefore the sage keeps her part of the deal
And doesn't check up on the other person.

Thus virtuous officials keep their promise
And the crooked ones break it.

The Heavenly Tao has no favorites:

It raises up the Good.

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《老子》第八十章

小国寡民。使有什伯之器而不用；使民重死而不远徙。

虽有舟舆，无所乘之，虽有甲兵，无所陈之。使民复结绳而用之。

甘其食，美其服，安其居，乐其俗。邻国相望，鸡犬之声相闻，民至老死，不相往来。

Let there be a small country with few people,
Who, even having much machinery, don't use it.
Who take death seriously and don't wander far away.
Even though they have boats and carriages, they never ride in them.
Having armor and weapons, they never go to war.
Let them return to measurement by tying knots in rope.

Sweeten their food, give them nice clothes, a peaceful abode and a relaxed life.
Even though the next country can be seen and its doges and chickens can be heard,

The people will grow old and die without visiting each others land.

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《老子》第八十一章

信言不美，美言不信。善者不辩，辩者不善。知者不博，博者不知。

圣人不积，既以为人己愈有，既以与人己愈多。天之道，利而不害；圣人之道，为而不争。

True words are not fancy.
Fancy words are not true.
The good do not debate.
Debaters are not good.
The one who really knows is not broadly learned,
The extensively learned do not really know.
The sage does not hoard,
She gives people her surplus.
Giving her surplus to others she is enriched.

The way of Heaven is to help and not harm.

Daodejing

PS: Copy from the following site: http://www.ams.sunysb.edu/~xuzhi/taote.htm