nt can they endure。
Therefore
The holy man puts his person behind and his person comes to the front。 He surrenders his person and his person is preserved。 Is it not because he seeks not his own？ For that reason he can accomplish his own。
8
Easy By Nature
Superior goodness resembleth water。 The water's goodness benefiteth the ten thousand things； yet it quarreleth not。
Water dwelleth in the places which the multitudes of men shun； therefore it is near unto the eternal Reason
The dwelling of goodness is in lowliness。 The heart of goodness is in commotion。 When giving； goodness showeth benevolence。 In words； goodness keepeth faith。 In government goodness standeth for order。 In business goodness exhibiteth ability。 The movements of goodness keep time。
It quarreleth not。 Therefore it is not rebuked。
9
Practising Placidity
Grasp to the full； are you not likely foiled？ Scheme too sharply； can you wear long？ If gold and jewels fill the hall no one can protect it。
Rich and high but proud； brings about its own doom。 To accomplish merit and acquire fame； then to withdraw； that is Heaven's Way。
10
What Can Be Done？
Who by unending discipline of the senses embraces unity cannot be disintegrated。 By concentrating his vitality and inducing tenderness he can become like a little child。 By purifying； by cleansing and profound intuition he can be free from faults。
Who loves the people when administering the country will practise nonassertion。
Opening and closing the gates of heaven； he will be like a mother…bird； bright； and white； and penetrating the four quarters； he will be unsophisticated。 He quickens them and feeds them。 He quickens but owns not。 He acts but claims not。 He excels but rules not。 This is called profound virtue。
11
The Function of the Non…Existent
Thirty spokes unite in one nave and on that which is non…existent ＇on the hole in the nave＇ depends the wheel's utility。 Clay is moulded into a vessel and on that which is non…existent ＇on its hollowness＇ depends the vessel's utility。 By cutting out doors and windows we build a house and on that which is non…existent ＇on the empty space within＇ depends the house's utility。
Therefore； existence renders actual but non…existence renders useful。
12
Abstaining From Desire
〃The five colors ＇combined＇ the human eye will blind；
The five notes ＇in one sound＇ the human ear confound；
The five tastes ＇when they blend＇ the human mouth offend。〃
〃Racing and hunting will human hearts turn mad；
Treasures high…prized make human conduct bad。〃
Therefore
The holy man attends to the inner and not to the outer。 He abandons the latter and chooses the former。
13
Loathing Shame
〃Favor bodes disgrace； it is like trembling。
Rank bodes great heartache。 It is like the body。〃
What means 〃Favor bodes disgrace； it is like trembling？〃
Favor humiliates。 Its acquisition causes trembling； its loss causes trembling。 This is meant by 〃Favor bodes disgrace； it is like trembling。〃
What means 〃Rank bodes great heartache； it is like the body？〃
I suffer great heartache because I have a body。 When I have no body； what heartache remains？
Therefore who administers the empire as he takes care of his body can be entrusted with the empire。
14
Praising the Mysterious
We look at Reason and do not see it； its name is Colorless。 We listen to Reason and do not hear it； its name is Soundless。 We grope for Reason and do not grasp it； its name is Bodiless。
These three things cannot further be analyzed。 Thus they are combined and conceived as a unity which on its surface is not clear and in its depth not obscure。
Forever and aye Reason remains unnamable； and again and again it returns home to non…existence。
This is called the form of the formless； the image of the imageless。 This is called the transcendentally abstruse。
In front its beginning is not seen。 In the rear its end is not seen。
By holding fast to the Reason of the ancients； the present is mastered and the origin of the past understood。 This is called Reason's clue。
15
The Revealers of Virtue
Those of yore who have succeeded in becoming masters are subtile； spiritual； profound； and penetrating。 On account of their profundity they can not be understood。 Because they can not be understood； therefore I endeavor to make them intelligible。
How cautious they are！ Like men in winter crossing a river。 How reluctant！ Like men fearing in the four quarters their neighbors。 How reserved！ They behave like guests。 How elusive！ They resemble ice when melting。 How simple！ They resemble rough wood。 How empty！ They resemble the valley。 How obscure！ They resemble troubled waters。
Who by quieting can gradually render muddy waters clear？ Who by stirring can gradually quicken the still？
He who cherishes this Reason is not anxious to be filled。 Since he is not filled； therefore he may grow old； without renewal he is complete。
16
Returning to the Root
By attaining the height of abstraction we gain fulness of rest。
All the ten thousand things arise； and I see them return。 Now they bloom in bloom but each one homeward returneth to its root。
Returning to the root means rest。 It signifies the return according to destiny。 Return according to destiny means the eternal。 Knowing the eternal means enlightenment。 Not knowing the eternal causes passions to rise； and that is evil。
Knowing the eternal renders comprehensive。 Comprehensiveness renders broad。 Breadth renders royal。 Royalty renders heavenly。 Heaven renders Reason…like。 Reason renders lasting。 Thus the decay of the body implies no danger。
17
Simplicity In Habits
Of great rulers the subjects do not notice the existence。 To lesser ones people are attached； they praise them。 Still lesser ones people fear； and the meanest ones people despise。
For it is said：
〃If your faith be insufficient； verily； you will receive no faith。〃
How reluctantly they ＇the great rulers＇ considered their words！ Merit they accomplished； deeds they performed； and the hundred families thought： 〃We are independent。〃
18
The Palliation of Vulgarity
When the great Reason is obliterated； we have benevolence and justice。 Prudence and circumspection appear； and we have much hypocrisy。
When family relations no longer harmonize； we have filial piety and paternal devotion。 When the country and the clans decay through disorder； we have loyalty and allegiance。
19
Returning to Simplicity
Abandon your saintliness； put away your prudence； and the people will gain a hundredfold！
Abandon your benevolence； put away your justice； and the people will return to filial piety and paternal devotion。
Abandon smartness； give up greed； and thieves and robbers will no longer exist。
These are three things for which culture is insufficient。 Therefore it is said：
〃Hold fast to that which will endure；
Show thyself simple； preserve thee pure；
And lessen self with desires fewer。〃
20
Different from the Vulgar
Abandon learnedness； and you have no vexation。 The 〃yes〃 compared with the 〃yea；〃 how little do they differ！ But the good compared with the bad； how much do they differ！
If what the people dread cannot be made dreadless； there will be desolation； alas！ and verily； there will be no end of it。
The multitudes of men are happy； so happy； as though celebrating a great feast。 They are as though in springtime ascending a tower。 I alone remain quiet； alas！ like one that has not yet received an omen。 I am like unto a babe that does not yet smile。
Forlorn am I； O so forlorn！ It appears that I have no place whither I may return home。
The multitude of men all have plenty and I alone appear empty。 Alas！ I am a man whose heart is foolish。
Ignorant am I； O； so ignorant！ Common people are bright； so bright； I alone am dull。
Common people are smart； so smart； I alone am confused； so confused。
Desolate am I； alas！ like the sea。 Adrift； alas！ like one who has no place where to stay。
The multitude of men all possess usefulness。 I alone am awkward and a rustic too。 I alone differ from others； but I prize seeking sustenance from our mother。
21
Emptying the Heart
〃Vast virtue's form
Follows Reason's norm。
〃And Reason's nature
Is vague and eluding。
〃How eluding and vague
All types including！
How vague and eluding；
All beings including！
How deep and how obscure。
It harbors the spirit pure；
Whose truth is ever sure；
Whose faith abides for aye
From of yore until to…day。
〃Its name is never vanishing；
It heeds the good of everything。〃
Through what do I know that 〃it heeds the good of everything〃？ In this way； verily： Through IT。
22
Humility's Increase
〃The crooked shall be straight；
Crushed ones recuperate；
The empty find th