Source: Wikisource Chinese text and English translation
Read the full Dao De Jing in English; switch the language mode to view the Classical Chinese text.
The Dao De Jing is traditionally attributed to Laozi and is arranged here chapter by chapter, pairing the Classical Chinese text with an English translation from Wikisource.
The way that can be stated, is not the eternal way; The name that can be named, is not the eternal name. The unnamed is the origin of heaven and earth; The named is the mother of the myriad things. Therefore, Constantly having no desire to view its commencement; Constantly having a desire to view its termination. These two have the same origin, but they differ in name; Both are called Mystery. Mystery after Mystery, is the gate to all wonders.
Everyone knows what beauty is; That is because there is ugliness; Everyone knows what goodness is; That is because there is evil. Therefore, Being and nothing give birth to one another, Hard and easy are mutually formed, Long and short shape each other, High and low complement each other, Music and voice are harmonized with each other, Front and back follow one another. Hence, The sage focuses on non-action in his works, Practices not-saying in his speech, The myriad things arise but are disregarded The sage produces but does not own Acts but does not claim Accomplishes work but does not take credit Only because he does not take credit, and thus the credit does not go away.
Not to quest for virtuous will keep the people from rivalry. Not to prize things that are hard to come by will keep the people from becoming thieves. Not to manifest desirables will make people's sentiments undisturbed. So, in the sages' peaceful and tranquil world, People's minds are calmed, People's stomachs are filled People's aspirations are lowered, People's physiques are strengthened; People are kept unknowing and undesiring, And even the knowing ones will never dare to act, Action without action. There is nothing left undone.
The Dao is empty, But when using it, it is impossible to use it up. It is profound, and seems like the root of the myriad things. Blunts its own sharpness. Unravels its own fetters. Harmonises its own light. Mixes with its own dust. It is unclear, but seems to have existed there. I do not know whose son it is, Maybe it was already created before the creator.
The sky and the earth do not care, They regard the myriad things as straw dogs; The sage does not care, He regards people as straw dogs. The space between the sky and the earth, how much is it like large bellows! Empty but endless, Just move and wind will be produced; Much talk soon comes to nothing. It is better to be in between extremes.
The valley spirit will not die, this is the primal mother. The gate of the primal mother is the root of the world. Her supplies were unending, exploitation of her shall never exhaust.
The heaven and the earth are eternal. The reason for the eternity of the heaven and the earth This is because they do not exist for themselves, therefore they are eternal. Because of this, The sages put their selves behind all other people, Yet it is before all others he shall eventually stand. They were indifferent to the discomforts and dangers. Yet it is he who shall thus survive. Isn't it because he is selfless? Therefore he eventually achieves selfness.
The best quality/character is like water. The water's goodness is that it benefits the myriad things but does not quarrel, and it willingly goes to where others hate, Thus it is almost like the Dao. It is good to be/live on the ground, to deepen a heart, to love people while associating with them. to keep one's word while talking, to be peaceful while governing, to do what one is capable of, to act at a fit time. Because of the non-fighting-over, there will be no blame.
Rather than pour into a cup that overflowed, It is better to stop it. To hammer and to sharpen, it won't take long to be broken. Brimming a hall with riches, one shall not be able to keep it. The man arrogant from enormous wealth buries disaster upon his road. Resigning after succeeding fits with the principle of the universe.
If the soul keeps on being felt by the body, How can the body and the soul not part? Trying lungs to show [they are] delicate, How can they be like babies? Clean the mirror of ultimate source, How can they not find their defect? To love people and to govern the country, How not to appoint the Jih/Zhi/wise people? The gate of the heaven shuts and opens alternately and frequently, How to act like females? Have known all the causes and effects, How to keep doing only the backlog of things? Quicken them, feed them, Produce and do not own. Act and do not claim. Raise and do not rule. This is called profound virtue.
Put thirty spokes together into one hub, The original empty space makes the use of the wheel. Knead clay into vessels, The original empty space makes the use of the vessel. Shape doors and windows for a house/room, The original empty space makes the use of a house/room. So the things that are made are only conditions, What [we] are using is still the original empty space.
The beautiful colours blind people's eyes, The appealing music stuns people's ears The delicious flavours make people's mouth numb, To indulge in hunting makes people's hearts wild, To pursue rare treasures makes people's behaviour improper. So, as the sage attends to the inner world, not the outer world, Throw away the latter and adopt the former.
Promotion and demotion are both horrifying, Regarding huge trouble as one's own body. What do we mean by "Promotion and demotion are both horrifying"? Being promoted is despicable, It is frightening to get it. It is frightening to lose it. This is the meaning of "Promotion and demotion are both horrifying". What do we mean by "regarding huge trouble as our own body"? The reason that I have trouble, is because I have a body. If I do not possess a body, what trouble do I have? Therefore, respecting your body over the Universe, then you could be entrusted with the Universe; Love your body before the Universe, then you are worth taking care of the Universe.
That which is looked at yet never seen is known as invisible, That which is listened to yet never heard is known as soundless, And that which is grasped yet never touched is known as intangible. The origin of these three can not be observed, so mix them and form a unity. Above, it is not lit; Below, it is not dark. The Dao cannot be named by common rules, as it returns to its origin, It is the shape of the original shape, the image of the original object, This is blurry and profound. Step forward, cannot see its beginning; Follow it, cannot see its end. Hold the ancient Dao to know the present things, and thus know the ancient beginnings, This is the principle of the Dao.
Once upon a time, those who knew the Way, were a mysterious and subtle people, Transient yet profound, tranquil yet utterly unfathomable. Since they are inexplicable, I can only tell what they seem like: Cautious, as if wading through a winter river, Wary, as if afraid of their own neighbours. Grave, like the courteous house guests. Elusive, as of melting ice. Pure and natural, as of unchiselled gems. Wide and open, as of a deep valley. Yet mysterious, oh yes, they were like troubled water. Who can remain tranquil amidst troubled airs, that calmness may flow from within? Who may remain at peace eternal, that motion would yield birth to nature? For those who follow the Way, fulfillment has never been their aim. Only as they are forever unfulfilled, can such freshness be ever renewed.
Immersed within the heart of the void, keep tranquility's essence. The myriad things together arise, I thereby perceive their return. Now things flower, and in flowering each one returns to the source, The return to the source is called tranquillity, This is the return to destiny, The return to destiny is the eternal, To know the eternal is wisdom, When one does not know wisdom, disaster arises! Knowing the eternal is wide-ranging, Wide-ranging means open-minded, Open-minded means royal, Royal means heavenly, Heavenly means the Dao, The Dao means everlasting. One could see his body perish without fear.
Great rulers are hardly known by their subjects, Then come those the people draw near and praise, Then those the people hold in fear, Then those the people revile. When one lacks trust, one finds no trust. Reluctantly, without boasting; Perform actions, accomplish deeds; The people will say it happened naturally.
When the Dao is lost, so there arises benevolence and righteousness. When prudence and wisdom appear, there is great hypocrisy. When family relations are not right, there is filial piety and paternal affection. When the state is confused and chaotic, there is loyalty and faithfulness.
Abandon holiness, relinquish prudence; the people will flourish a hundredfold, Abandon benevolence, relinquish righteousness; and people will return to filial piety and affection. Abandon cleverness, relinquish gain; and thieves and robbers will not appear. As I know such three to be no mere words, Stay true to that which is reliable. Recognize simplicity, embrace purity, Lessen the self, diminish desires.
Discard conventional doctrines and be relieved from anxieties. Flattery or reprimand, what difference does it make? Good or evil, what difference does it take? Just because the people are in awe, you cannot be indifferent? Ridiculous! Ungrounded! When everyone is celebrating and joyous, As if relishing a spiritual triumph, As if enjoying a victorious feast. I alone am feelingless! Contemplating the myriad future, Dazed like a newborn child, Seizing the moment! Pondering the uncertainties. When everyone feels lavished, I alone am hollowed. I am a fool! Confounded! When everyone seemed enlightened, I alone was in suspense; When everyone is watchful, I alone am in confusion. Enigmatic! Like the obscure twilight, Desolate! Like the infinite universe. When everyone is focused, I alone am stubborn and despicable. I alone am different from the common, I find refuge in the womb of this profound conception.
Where the greatest Virtue resides, Only the Dao may reveal. Things that bestow the Dao, Radiates such liberty, such easiness. Eased! Liberated from its form, yet fashioned; Liberated! At ease with its position, yet poised. Mesmerizing! Mysterious! Brilliance from within; Its brilliance is so enlightening, it exemplifies the truth. Traversing through all times, Its name is not diminished, Amassing all marvels of human intelligence. How do I know the essence of all marvels? By observing things that bestow the Dao.
Fractured, one asserts unity, Crooked, one acts straight, Depressed, one appears fulfilled, Exhausted, one exhibit freshness, Ignorant, one expresses intelligence, Excessive, one becomes delusive, Hence, the master maintains integrity, And sets an example for the people. Profess not and reveal enlightenment, Contend not and lavish brilliance, Proclaim not and win praises, Dignify not and garner respect. The master contests not, Therefore is uncontested. “Fractured, one asserts unity”, Such timeless truth! With genuine integrity, one rediscovers self.
Less spoken, words speak for themselves naturally. Therefore gusts cannot chill the exuberant day, Showers cannot turn day to dusk. Why is it so? Even the heaven and earth cannot counter its own force, Let alone people? Therefore those engaged with the Dao take pleasure that, The Taught is the Dao, The Virtuous is the Virtue, The perplexed is perplexity. At one with the Dao, the Dao is welcoming; At one with Virtue, Virtue be appreciating; At one with perplexity, perplexity be gratifying. Lack of belief, Explains the disbelief in this futility.
Ones who tip-toe do not stand, Ones who stride do not pace, Ones show off themselves do not shine, Ones that bias themselves with self-righteousness do not justify. Ones self-asserted are without accomplishments, Ones self-esteemed are not endurable. These according to the Dao, Are called extravagance and exorbitance. which the masses resent, Therefore those embracing the Dao dwell not.
Mired into existence, Before the conception of heaven and earth, Tranquil! Desolate! Independent and undeterred, Cyclical and not circumvented, As being the mother of all nature. Its name is unbeknown, I call it the Art of the Dao And arbitrarily describe it as great. Being great, it is desolated, Being desolated, it is removed, Being removed, it returns. Therefore the Art is great, Heaven is great, Earth is great, The master is also great. These are the four noble greatness, And the master is one of them. Human principles on the earth, The earth's principles on the heaven, The heaven principles on the Dao, The Dao principles on nature.
Weightiness is the root of weightlessness, Temperance is the master of temperament. Therefore the master stays close to trusted supplies in expeditions; There be spectacles and scenery, Presiding in serenity. Why then would a leader of a myriad supporters, Demise one's own body in pursuing the world? Weightless, and lose the root, Tempestuous, and forfeit mastership.
Good travelling leaves no tracks; Good speech is without reproach; Good strategies need no plotting; With good fastening, even a door with no hinge cannot be opened; The good knot is made without a rope and cannot be unravelled. Hence the Sage never fails to save people, Therefore no one is rejected; The Sage never fails at saving things, Therefore nothing is left abandoned, This is illumination. Thus the good people are the teachers of the bad; The bad people are resources for the good. One who fails to respect his teacher, And does not cherish his resources, However intelligent such a one may be, he is still greatly confused. This is the essential mystery!
Acquire knowledge of extroversions, but Acquaint with introversions, and Be the earth's fountain. Be the earth's fountain, be Virtuous and undeterred, And be reborn. Realize the radiance of the limelight, but Remain in the shadows, and Be the people's example. Be the people's example, be Virtuous and not excessive, And be tranquillized. Experience the glory, but Express humility, and Be the world's refuge. Be the world's refuge, be Virtuous and complacent, And be returned to your roots. Uprooted, wood can be carved into instruments, The master utilizes it and becomes a respectful leader. Therefore, a great tailor seldom trims.
It is futile trying to possess the universe, And act on shaping it in the direction of one's ambition. The instruments of the universe cannot be shaped, One cannot act upon it. Act upon it and you will fail, Grasp onto it and it will slip. For everything, there is a time to tread; a time to trail, A time to gust; a time to gape, A time to vigour; a time to vice, A time to carry; a time to ride. Hence the master departs extremes. Departs extravagance, departs magnificence.
Ones who offer advice in the Art of governance, Offers not the use of forces to dominate the world, Understanding its invitation to retaliation. Where troops tramp, thorns thrive. After great battalions, years of resentment are inevitable. Therefore the master aims merely at achieving a goal, Daring not to capture dominance. Accomplish and refrain glorification, Accomplish and restrain aggression, Accomplish and relinquish pride, Accomplish only because there is no other mean, Accomplish and refuse domination. Matters that mature grow old, That is not in the Art of the Dao, Without being in the Art would die prematurely.
Where everyone is well armed, is a state in vain, Matters alike are resented, Therefore the master dwells not. Hence the master finds residence on leftovers, Mobilizes on righteousness. Armaments are instruments in vain, Are unmasterly instruments. Wielded only when inevitable, Reconciliation is paramount, Victorious without glorification. Those who glorify, take pleasure in massacres. Those who take pleasure in massacres, Cannot win the hearts of the people. Therefore, upon prosperity, be left out, In adversity, be righteous. Hence the general is to the left, The admiral is to the right, Positioned in solemn remembrance. Casualties are mourned in consolation. Victories are remembered in solemness.
The Dao eternally remains unknowable. The unexploited nature may be insignificant, Yet no one under the heaven can tame. When the kings and nobles abide, The myriad things follow. Heaven and earth complement each other, to befall morning dews, Without ordinance by people, the droplets spread out evenly. Social establishment comes with titles; Since titles are designated, one should know to restrain. With self restrain, catastrophe could be avoided. Like that the Dao is manifested in the world, Is where rivers merge into oceans.
Knowing people is being intelligent, Knowing the self is being enlightened. Victorious over people is being powerful, Victorious over self is being invincible. Those who are content are submerged in wealth, Those who are contentious are submitted to ambitions, Those who do not forget their principles endure, Those who die but are not forgotten live on.
Implications of the Tao are broad. Ubiquitous! Capable of contravening and swaying anything left or right. The myriad things depend on it yet it never turns its back away, Fulfilling without recognition. Submitting to the myriad things without assuming ownership, Always undesirable, Thus be called modest; Submerged by the myriad things without accepting ownership, Thus be called great. Hence the master foregoes greatness, Therefore is capable of accomplishing great deeds.
Herald a great icon, And the people come; Come towards unharmful doctrines, People find security, Peacefulness and prosperity. Music and enticements crave the visitor to stay. The words of the Dao, Are tasteless and lack sensations, Observe and it cannot be seen, Listen and it cannot be heard, Exploit and it cannot be exhausted.
If one desires to shrink something, one must indefinitely expand it; If one desires to weaken something, one must indefinitely strengthen it; If one desires to discard something, one must indefinitely flourish it; If one desires to obtain something, one must indefinitely give it; This is the Knowledge of Subtlety. Gentleness overcomes Toughness, Vulnerability overcomes Dominance. Fish cannot leave the depth, Deadly weapons should not be exposed to the people.
The Dao abides in non-action but there is nothing it does not do. When the leaders abide, The myriad of things transform by themselves; Transformed and desire arises, I would suppress it with the unknowable unexploited; Without knowledge and exploitation, one thus led to no desire; Without desire and with tranquillity, The world would correct by itself.
Those with great Virtue are not bound by virtues, Thus can be with Virtue; Those without Virtue fail to liberate themselves of virtues, Thus remain without Virtue. Those with great Virtue act not and take no credit for their actions, Those without Virtue act and demand respect for their actions. The humane act charitably and holds no repute. The righteous act in the name of justice and relish the glory. The moral acts, and when there is no response, Forces the issue, alas to no avail. Therefore, when the Dao is lost there is Virtue, When Virtue is lost there is humanity, When humanity is lost there is righteousness, When righteousness is lost there is morality. When the rituals of morality become customary, Devotion and faith become skin-deep and turmoil begins to stir; When priority is given to the scholars, The Dao becomes glorified and is used to fool the crowd. Hence the master is concerned with depth, Not with sheerness; Dwells on integrity, not on glory. Therefore, detach from exteriors and embrace interiors.
When at one with the Dao: When heaven is at one, it is clear, When the earth is at one, it is fertile, When the spirit is at one, it is serene, When the refuge is at one, it is rewarding, When the myriad things are at one, there is life, When the leaders are at one, the people are respectable, And become at one! If the heaven is unclear, there is fear it will fracture; If the earth is infertile, there is dread for disaster; If the spirit is disturbed, there is anxiety in death; If the refuge is deprived, there is panic over recession; If the myriad things are lifeless, there is scare of extermination; If the leaders are disrespectful, absorbed in the admiration of their own supremacy, the people become terrorized by authority. Therefore admiration is based on humility, Supremacy finds foundation in lowliness. When the leaders maintain uninvolved, irrelevant and undeserving, Is it not based on humility? Therefore prepare your chariots and set them aside. Yearn not for crowns and jewels, And remain composed in grits and gravel.
Resilience is the Dao in action, Vulnerability is the Dao in expression. The myriad things in the universe are conceived by existence, Existence is conceived by inexistence.
The learned discovers the Dao, duly obliges; The learning discovers the Dao, and questions its potency; The unlearned discovers the Dao, and roars into laughter, Without the laughs, it would not be the Dao. Therefore words of wisdom go: Those enlightened by the Dao seem confused, Those progressing towards the Dao seem to fall behind, Those who discredit the Dao seem honourable, Those Virtuous seem desolate, Those honest seem humiliated, Those with noble Virtue seem lacking, Those building on Virtue seem fraudulent, Those of principled character seem to waver, Great squareness is without turning corners, Great instruments are deliberately constructed, Great vocalists seldom raise their voices, Great icons are shapeless. The Dao is a master of providing and empowering.
The Dao gives birth to unity, Unity gives birth to duality, Duality gives birth to trinity, Trinity gives birth to a myriad of things. The myriad things bear shadows and embrace radiance, Are infused with the breath of life to achieve the harmonized trinity of darkness, light and soul. (People hate to be uninvolved, irrelevant and undeserving, Yet true leaders associate themselves with these characters.) Therefore, things may be gained by losing, May be lost by gaining. What others profess, I will also proclaim: “Forced principles will not be viable”, Let this be the heart and soul of the message.
The world's softest, Steers the world's hardest, That with no substance enters there with no space, Hence come to the appreciation of the benefits of inaction. Doctrines of unspoken words, Benefits of inaction, Rarely in this world could anything compare.
Fame and honour, which is more associable? Health and wealth, which is more vital? Success and failure, which is more harmful? Hence intense admiration comes with a hefty price, Accumulation of treasures comes with the loss of modesty. Acquaint with humility and be unhumilliated, Know the limitations and be unlimited, be enduring.
Great support seems deficient, Employed it will not collapse; Great buoyancy seems empty, Utilized it will not be exhausted. Great honesty seems corrupt, Great skills seem incompetent, Great orations seem inarticulate. Movement overcomes coldness, Stillness overcomes heat, Tranquillity makes the world become righteous.
When the world is with the Dao, Carriages are used to transport manure; When the world is without the Dao, Armed chariots are lined up near the city gates. There is no greater sin than seduction, No greater fault than discontentment, No greater guilt than yearning. Therefore know what is enough, and you will always have enough.
Without leaving home, You may be acquainted with the universe; Without prying into windows of knowledge, You may be acquainted with the Dao. The further you may travel, the less you might know. Hence the master travels not, yet knowledgeable, Sees not, yet pronounced, Acts not, yet accomplished.
Practicing scholarships, every day there is something to gain, Practicing the Dao, every day there is something to lose; When you lose all that can be lost, You may be without action. Act not and leave none to be acted upon! Therefore those who can master the universe, Often remain unoccupied; Those who are preoccupied, Cannot master the universe.
The masters never close up their minds, But base their mind on the people's mind. Those kind, be kind to them, Those unkind, be kind to them also. Virtuous is being kind. Those faithful, have faith in them, Those unfaithful, have faith in them also. Virtuous is having faith. The master is always anxious with the world about, And is concerned with the people. The people attend to the master's words and expressions, The master fosters all in innocence.
Emerging from birth and disappearing into death: Three of ten are followers of life, Three of ten are followers of death, There are also three of ten who pursue life, but end up in the place of death. Why is it so? Because they overdose in their pursuit of life. Those who truly know how to capture the essence of living, Travels through the woods without being attacked by tigers, Enters into battlefields without being attacked by armour; Brutality has no angle to strike, Tigers find no place to lay their claws, Enemies find no opening to lodge their swords. Why is it so? Because they never enter a death arena.
The Dao conceives, Virtue provides, Matters shape, Movements empower. Hence for the myriad things, None does not respect the Tao and honor Virtue. Respect for the Tao, Honour given to Virtue, Are not commanded, yet they come about naturally. Therefore the Tao conceives and Virtue provides, Leads and educates, Empowers and ripens, Raises and redeems. Conceiving but not possessing, Acting but not dwelling, Leading but not dictating, These are the intricacies of Virtue.
The origin of existence began with the mother of all nature. Understand the mother, And get to know the being of the child; Understand the being of the child, Then reacquaint with the mother, One could see his body perish without fear. Clutter the exchanges, Close the doors, Live to be without office. Open the exchanges Operate the businesses, Live to be without relief. Seeing to little things is to have insight, Keeping to gentleness is to have strength. Exploit the radiance, But return to your insight, Remember that trying to leave nothing behind leaves yourself in vain, That is practicing the timeless truth.
That which makes one principled is knowing, Walking the way of the Dao, The only fear is to become instructive. The way towards the Dao is unpaved, Yet people like having a path. When many are appointed to offices, while fields sprout weed, Storages are empty, Fashions are blatantly accessorized, People carry weaponry, Are satiated in feasts, Lavished with extravaganzas, That is making out like bandits! Not the way of the Dao.
Proficient builders do not eradicate, Noble embracers do not abandon, They continue to be honoured from generation to generation. Cultivate the Dao amidst yourself, The Virtue is in understanding the truth; Cultivate the Dao amidst your family, The Virtue is in finding fortune; Cultivate the Dao amidst your community, The Virtue is in garnering respect; Cultivate the Dao amidst your nation, The Virtue is in harvesting prosperity. Cultivate the Dao amidst the universe, The Virtue is ubiquitously enjoyed. Therefore, behold one's self to see self, Behold one's family to see family, Behold one's community to see community, Behold one's nation to see nationality, Behold the universe to see the universe. How do I know the essence of the universe? By seeing this.
The profoundness of being embraced with the Virtue, Is like being a newborn. Wild wasps, poisonous scorpions, and venomous snakes will find no sting, Fierce beasts will find no hold, Preying birds will find no claws. The bones are weak, and the muscles are tender, yet the grip is firm. Knows not of the union of male and female, Yet wholly united with integrity, the very essence of exquisiteness. Cries all day, yet the voice is not hoarsened, The very chorus of harmony. Understanding harmony is being eternal, Understanding eternity is being enlightened, Promoting life is being gracious, Channelling your energies internally is being strong. Things that mature grow old, Because they contradict the Dao, Contradict the Dao, and be brought to an early end.
Those who know talk not, Those who talk know not. Blockading its exchanges, Confining its ideals, Moderating its ingenuity, Unraveling its complexity, Softening its intensity, Is but merging into its ubiquity, That is the intricacy of ubiquity. It cannot be possessed for love, Cannot be possessed for hate, Cannot be possessed for profit, Cannot be possessed for harm, Cannot be possessed for respect, Cannot be possessed for despise. Therefore it is respected by the universe.
Be righteous in governance, Be unpredictable on the battlefield, Be unoccupied to master the universe. How do I know the essence of leadership? With this: The world is full of taboo and forbiddance, And the people are immersed in poverty; The people are armed with weaponry, And the nation is clouded with corruption; The people are preoccupied with professions, And bizarre obsessions grow out of nowhere; Chapters of law and orders are increasingly written, And thievery is common. Therefore the master maintains: “I act not and the people naturally becomes transpired, I believe in peace and the people naturally become righteous, I am unoccupied and the people naturally become prosperous, I yearn not and the people naturally become serene.”
When the governance is idle, The people are mellow; When the governance is vigilant, The people are mischievous. Adversity! Where fortunes lean, Fortunes! Where adversity hides. How can the ultimate be known? It has no norm! As righteousness regresses to bewilderment, Goodwill regresses to bewitchments, The days become long and hard. Hence the master is square without being edgy, Incorrupt without being severe, Straight without being thoughtless, Radiant without being glorious.
In governance and management, nothing compares to being conservative. Only being conservative, Can withdrawal be advanced. Advanced withdrawal is putting weight on building Virtue Put weight on building Virtue, Then there is nothing insurmountable, Insurmountable, and limitations are unbeknownst, When one's limitations are unbeknownst, One can inspire a nation. A nation inspired is a nation that can be viable. That is being deeply rooted, In the viability and vision of the Dao.
Governing a nation is like frying small fish. Approach the world with the Dao, And evilness will find no spirit. Not that there are no evil spirits, But that the spirits will be of no harm; Not only will the spirits be of no harm, The master will also be of no harm. When the master and the subjects bring no harm to each other, Virtue can hence be returned to another.
Superior nations are positioned downstream. Where heaven and earth meet, There the heavenly feminine remains. Femininity often overcomes masculinity with composure, Maintaining composure is keeping a low profile. Therefore when a great nation lurks beneath a small nation, It can overtake the smaller nation; When a small nation lurks beneath a great nation, It can overtake the greater nation. Therefore stay low to conquer, Or stay low to be able to conquer. The biggest mistake for a great nation is to be obsessed with domination, The critical mistake for a small nation is to be obsessed with dominance. Greatness is achieved only when the desires of both are fulfilled, Therefore the superior stay low.
The Dao holds the crux to the myriad things, It is the treasure of goodness, It is the redeemer of evilness. Articulate words can influence the economy, Respectable actions can win the hearts of the people. How can one be removed from temptation? Therefore when the leader is chosen, And the officers are appointed, Though you may have treasures of honour and chariots of pride to offer, It compares not to offering a vision in the Dao. Why is the value of the Dao cherished timelessly? Without asking and being given, Having sinned and been forgiven? Therefore it is cherished by the world.
Act without act, Work without work, Taste without taste. Enlarge the belittled, increase the lessened, Reward condemnation with Virtue. Complexity is drawn from simplicity, Greatness is found in triviality. Problematic complexities must be resolved in simplicity, Great accomplishments must be built on trivialities, Hence the master continues to be unconcerned with great deeds, Therefore is capable of accomplishing greatness. Light-minded promises draw few believers, The more simplifications, the more complicated it will become, Hence the master addresses the complexity. Therefore may continually avoid complications.
That settled is easily maintained, That without signs is easily conspired, That fragile is easily shattered, That insignificant is easily dispersed. Act on it before it materializes, Manage it before it becomes chaotic. A strapping tree is grown from a tiny sprout; A sky-scraping tower is built from a modest mound, A far-reaching journey begins with a small step. Those who act upon will fail, Those who hold on will lose. The master acts not, therefore fails not; Holds not on, therefore loses not. Amateurs often fail on the verge of success. Be focused in the end as in the beginning, Then there will be no failure. Hence the master desires not to be desirous, Treasures, not precious possessions. Learn to be unlearned, Liberate the people of their past. Assist the myriad things in returning to their essence, And not dare act.
The timeless masters of the Dao, Is not about enlightening the people with it, But about humbling the people with it. The people are complicated, Manage it by managing its intelligence. Use intelligence to govern a nation, and be the traitor of a nation; Not use intelligence to govern a nation, and be the blessing of a nation. Understand these two, and set them as standards. Being understanding in setting standards, Is having the intricate Virtue. The intricate Virtue is profound! Farfetched! Contra to its objects! And leads towards favourable peacefulness.
Lakes and oceans can be the master of all streams, Because they are good at staying low, Therefore they can be master of all streams. Hence one who desires to be honoured, Must speak humbly of one's self; One who desires to lead must keep one's self behind. Hence the master is on top yet the people do not feel the weight, Is in front yet the people are not offended, Hence the world finds pleasure in pushing the master ahead Without feeling pushed aside. It is because the master contests not, Therefore can be uncontested. The world says that the Dao is great, but seems useless. I say that it is great, therefore it seems useless. If it seemed anything useful, Time would have diminished its greatness.
I have three precious things, that I hold onto and cherish. The first is called mercy, The second is called prudence, The third is not daring to be on top of the world. Merciful, therefore can be courageous; Prudent, therefore can be generous; Not daring to be on top of the world, Therefore can become instrumental and respectable. When without mercy and still courageous, Without prudence and still generous, Without reservation and still forging ahead, futility! With mercy, battles will be won, Defence will be secure, The heavens will come to your rescue and protection in its mercy.
Great gladiators are not violent, Great warriors are not enraged, Great champions remain uncontested, Great leaders act with humility. That is the Virtue of not contesting, That is the power of leadership, That is the ultimate unity with timelessness.
There is a saying in the battlefield, “Dare not be the host thus be the guest, Dare not advance an inch thus retreat a foot.” That is to move without moves, Be armed without arms, Cast out without out-casting, Be forceful without force. There is no greater fault than underestimating one's opponent, To underestimate one's opponent is to lose one's reservation. Therefore upon the clashing of the forces, Those who are reserved are victorious!
These words are easy to understand and easy to follow. Yet for worldly people, none can understand, none can follow. Words make legends, Feats make heroes. Because in this there is nothing to be known, hence it is unknown. Those who know are rare, those who abide are respectable, Hence the master bears humility in apparels and treasuries at heart.
Knowing that you do not know, is superiority; Not knowing this knowledge, is defectiveness. Only by defecting defectives, Can one be void of defectiveness. The master is void of defectiveness, Because of the defecting of defectives Hence is void of defectiveness.
When the people are not threatened by the imposing dignity, Dignity is imposed! Without intruding on the people's dwellings, Without dejecting the people's creations. Because of not dejecting, Hence is not dejected. Hence the master is introspective, and not professing. Self-loving, and not self-righteous. Therefore liberated and resolved.
Courageous in daring and kill, Courageous in not daring and live. These two are sometimes favourable and sometimes harmful. What the heavens detest, Who knows? Hence the master addresses the complexity. The heavenly Tao: Contest not and master winning, Speak not and master oration, Summon not and it comes naturally, Be honest and master intrigue. The meshes of the heavenly dragnet are extensive, It may be sparse, but nothing escapes its netting.
When people are not threatened by death, Why intimidate them with death? One who causes the people to be constantly threatened by death, And bewitched with bewilderments, must be seized and executed, Who dares? Usually, some executioners execute, But those who assume the executioner's job to execute, Is said to be like assuming the carpenter's job to carve wood. Those who assume the carpenter's job to carve wood, Seldom avoid hurting their hands.
People's poverty, Is caused by parasitic exploitation by superiors, Hence there is poverty. People's complicatedness, Is caused by the ambitions of superiors, Hence there are complications. People's willingness to sacrifice, Is because of the weight given to life, Hence there are sacrifices. Only those who are not ambitious for achievements in life, Are truly capable of appreciating life.
People are born gentle and fragile, They die stiff and tough. The myriad things, plants and trees, are born tender and crisp, They die dried and withered. Therefore those who are stiff and tough are followers of death, Those who are gentle and fragile are followers of life. Hence when the armed forces are strong the nation is not successful, When the resources are strong the arms are naturally forceful. It is with great strength when one stays low, It is with gentleness and fragility when one can assume superiority.
The heavenly Dao, Is like the arching bow! That on top is repressed, That below is held high; The excessive is expended, The deprived is supplemented. The way of the Dao is heavenly, It is to supplement the deprived at the expense of the excessive. The way of the people is different, It is to proffer the excessive at the expense of the deprived. How then can there be any excess to offer to the world? There is none but the Dao. Hence the master acts without presumption, Accomplishes and not dwell, That is being undesirous in showing off one's capabilities!
Of all gentleness and submissiveness in the world Nothing compares to water, And to tackle stiffness and toughness there is nothing better, There is no easier substitution. Be submissive to overcome dominance, Be gentle to overcome toughness, None in the world knows not, None can follow. Therefore the master says, “Accepting the nation's shame is being stately; Accepting the nation's adversities is being majestic.” Righteous words seem contradictory.
When hateful hostility is resolved, There will be lingering hatred, How can this be cured? Hence the master holds onto supporting agreements, Without holding anyone responsible. Those with Virtue exert effort in working out agreements, Those without Virtue exert effort to scrutinize the disagreements. The Dao is unbiased, It will always bring cure to the people.
A small nation has a small population, Yet even without state-of-the-art instruments to work with, People would rather sacrifice themselves than migrate away. Even though there are vessels and vehicles for travel, None takes the opportunity; Even though there are national guards, They are not lined up for inspection; People revert to simple means of measure with straps and knots. Indulge their desires and aspirations, Adorn their attires and outfits, Secure their place and quarters, Console their beliefs and customs. Then even if the neighboring nation is within sight, And the crowing and barking can be heard, People retire of old age without longing to give service to the other.
Truthful words are not pleasant, Pleasant words are not trustworthy; Those who are good do not dispute, Those who are disputatious are not good; Those who know are not learned, Those who are learned do not know. The Sage does not store up things, The more he does for people, the more he has; The more he gives, the more he gains. The Way of Heaven, Is benefitting, not harming. The Way of the Sage, Is acting, not contending.
