04道德经英译本85种-第504章

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　　When　this　simplicity　is　divided；　every　thing　and　not…thing　needs　a　name。　Once　there　are　names；　the　process　of　distinction　should　stop。　To　know　when　to　stop　is　to　be　free　from　danger。

　　32

　　The　primal　eternal　Tao　is　an　unnameable　simplicity。　Though　small；　there　is　nothing　under　all　of　heaven　that　can　subjugate　it。
　　If　a　leader　abides　by　it；　all　beings　are　naturally　drawn　to　him。
　　Heaven　and　earth　come　together　in　harmony　and　sweet　rain　falls　everywhere。　People　cooperate　voluntarily；　without　any　instruction。
　　Tao　in　the　world　is　like　streams　flowing　into　the　sea。

　　33

　　Knowing　others　is　intelligence；　knowing　the　self　is　enlightenment。
　　Conquering　others　is　power；　conquering　the　self　is　strength。
　　Know　what　is　enough；　and　you'll　be　rich。　Persevere；　and　you'll　develop　a　will。
　　Remain　in　the　center；　and　you'll　always　be　at　home。　Die　without　dying；　and　you'll　endure　forever。

　　34

　　The　great　Tao　floods　and　flows　in　every　direction。
　　Everything　in　existence　depends　on　it；　and　it　doesn't　deny　them。　It　accomplishes　its　work　without　naming　or　making　claims　for　itself。　Everything　in　existence　is　clothed　and　nourished　by　it；　but　it　doesn't　lord　over　anything。
　　Aimless；　ambitionless；　it　might　be　called　〃small。〃
　　Everything　in　existence　returns　to　it；　and　still　it　doesn't　lord　over　anything。　Thus　it　might　also　be　called　〃great。〃
　　Because　it　has　no　desire　to　be　great；　it　can　achieve　greatness。

　　35

　　Stay　centered　in　the　Tao　and　the　world　comes　to　you：　Comes；　and　isn't　harmed；　Comes；　and　finds　contentment。
　　Most　travelers　are　drawn　to　music　and　good　food。
　　When　Tao　is　talked　about；　the　words　can　seem　bland　and　flavourless。　Looked　at；　it　may　not　catch　the　eye。　Listened　to；　it　might　not　seduce　the　ear。　Used；　it　can　never　be　exhausted。

　　36

　　What　is　ultimately　to　be　reduced　must　first　be　expanded　。　What　is　ultimately　to　be　weakened　must　first　be　made　strong。　What　is　ultimately　to　be　discarded　must　first　be　embraced。　What　is　ultimately　to　be　taken　away　must　first　be　given。
　　This　is　called　subtle　insight。
　　The　soft　overcomes　the　hard。　The　weak　overcomes　the　strong。　The　Tao　should　never　be　abandoned。　Weapons　should　never　be　displayed。

　　37

　　Eternal　Tao　doesn't　do　anything；　yet　it　leaves　nothing　undone。
　　If　you　abide　by　it；　everything　in　existence　will　transform　itself。　When；　in　the　process　of　self…transformation；　desires　are　aroused；　calm　them　with　nameless　simplicity。
　　When　desires　are　dissolved　in　the　primal　presence；　peace　and　harmony　naturally　occur；　and　the　world　orders　itself。

　　38

　　A　truly　good　person　doesn't　dwell　on　her　goodness。　Thus　she　can　be　good。　A　person　of　false　goodness　never　forgets　her　goodness。　Thus　her　goodness　is　always　false。
　　A　truly　good　person　does　nothing；　yet　nothing　remains　undone。　A　person　of　false　goodness　is　forever　doing；　yet　everything　remains　forever　undone。
　　Those　who　are　interested　in　service　act　without　motive。　Those　who　are　interested　in　righteousness　act　with　motives　of　all　sorts。　Those　who　are　interested　in　propriety　act；　and　receiving　no　response；　they　roll　up　their　sleeves　and　use　force。
　　When　Tao　is　lost；　goodness　appears。　When　goodness　is　lost；　philanthropy　appears。　When　philanthropy　is　lost；　justice　appears。　When　justice　is　lost；　only　etiquette　is　left。
　　Etiquette　is　the　faintest　husk　of　real　loyalty　and　faith；　and　it　is　the　beginning　of　confusion。　Knowledge　of　the　future　is　only　a　blossom　of　Tao；　to　become　preoccupied　with　it　is　folly。
　　Thus　the　sage　sets　her　sights　on　the　substance　and　not　the　surface；　on　the　fruit　and　not　the　flower。　Leaving　the　one；　she　gains　the　other。

　　39

　　From　ancient　times　these　have　attained　oneness　with　Tao：　Heaven　attained　oneness　and　became　clear。　Earth　attained　oneness　and　became　peaceful。　Spirits　attained　oneness　and　became　strong。
　　Valleys　attained　oneness　and　became　full。　Beings　attained　oneness　and　became　fertile。　All　are　what　they　are　by　virtue　of　oneness。
　　Heaven　without　clarity　would　fall。　Earth　without　peace　would　explode。　Spirits　without　strength　would　dissipate。
　　Valleys　without　fullness　would　dry　up。　Beings　without　fertility　would　die　off。　Sages　without　wholeness　would　stumble　and　fall。
　　Humility　is　the　root　of　greatness。
　　Those　in　high　positions　do　well　to　think　of　themselves　as　powerless；　small　and　unworthy。　Isn't　this　taking　humility　for　the　root？
　　Attain　honour　without　being　honoured。
　　Don't　shine　like　jade；　or　chime　like　bells。

　　40

　　Returning　to　the　root　is　the　movement　of　Tao。　Quietness　is　how　it　functions。
　　The　ten　thousand　things　are　born　of　being。　Being　is　born　of　nothing。

　　41

　　When　a　wise　person　hears　Tao；　he　practices　it　diligently。　When　an　average　person　hears　Tao；　he　practices　it　sometimes；　and　just　as　often　ignores　it。
　　When　an　inferior　person　hears　Tao；　he　roars　with　laughter。　If　he　didn't　laugh；　it　wouldn't　be　Tao。
　　Thus　the　age　old　sayings：　The　way　to　illumination　appears　dark。　The　way　that　advances　appears　to　retreat。　The　way　that　is　easy　appears　to　be　hard。　The　highest　virtue　appears　empty。　The　purest　goodness　appears　soiled。　The　most　profound　creativity　appears　fallow。
　　The　strongest　power　appears　weak。　The　most　genuine　appears　unreal。　The　greatest　space　has　no　corners。　The　greatest　talent　matures　slowly。　The　greatest　voice　can't　be　heard。　The　greatest　image　can't　be　seen。
　　Tao　is　hidden　and　has　no　name。　Tao　alone　nourishes　and　fulfills　all　things。

　　42

　　Nonbeing　gives　birth　to　the　oneness。　The　oneness　gives　birth　to　yin　and　yang。　Yin　and　Yang　give　birth　to　heaven；　earth；　and　beings。　Heaven；　earth；　and　beings　give　birth　to　everything　in　existence。
　　Therefore　everything　in　existence　carries　within　it　both　yin　and　yang；　and　attains　its　harmony　by　blending　together　these　two　vital　breaths。
　　Ordinary　people　hate　nothing　more　than　to　be　powerless；　small；　and　unworthy。　Yet　this　is　how　superior　people　describe　themselves。
　　Gain　is　loss。　Loss　is　gain。
　　I　repeat　what　others　have　said：　The　strong　and　violent　don't　die　natural　deaths。　This　is　the　very　essence　of　my　teaching。

　　43

　　The　soft　overcomes　the　hard　in　the　world　as　a　gentle　rider　controls　a　galloping　horse。　That　without　substance　can　penetrate　where　there　is　no　space。　By　these　I　know　the　benefit　of　nonaction。
　　Teaching　without　words；　working　without　actions…nothing　in　the　world　can　compare　with　them。

　　44

　　Which　is　more　precious；　fame　or　health？　Which　is　more　valuable；　health　or　wealth？　Which　is　more　harmful；　winning　or　losing？
　　The　more　excessive　your　love；　the　greater　your　suffering。　The　longer　you　hoard；　the　heavier　your　losses。
　　Knowing　what　is　enough　is　freedom。　Knowing　when　to　stop　is　safety。　Practice　these；　and　you'll　endure。

　　45

　　The　greatest　perfection　seems　imperfect；　yet　its　usefulness　is　endless。　The　greatest　fullness　seems　empty；　yet　its　usefulness　is　inexhaustible。　Great　straightness　seems　flexible。
　　Great　skill　looks　clumsy。　Great　eloquence　sounds　awkward。
　　Movement　triumphs　over　cold。　Stillness　triumphs　over　heat。　Clarity　and　tranquility　set　the　whole　world　in　order。

　　46

　　When　the　world　practices　Tao；　horses　fertilize　the　fields。　When　the　world　ignores　Tao；　horses　are　bred　for　war。
　　There　is　no　greater　calamity　than　desire；　no　greater　curse　than　greed。
　　Know　that　enough　is　enough；　and　you'll　always　have　enough。

　　47

　　Without　going　out　the　door；　you　can　know　the　world。　Without　looking　out　the　window；　you　can　see　heaven。　The　farther　you　travel；　the　less　you　know。
　　Thus　the　wise　person　knows　without　traveling；　understands　without　seeing；　accomplishes　without　acting。

　　48

　　In　the　pursuit　of　learning；　every　day　something　is　added。　In　the　pursuit　of　Tao；　every　day　something　is　dropped。
　　Less　and　less　is　done；　until　one　arrives　at　nonaction。　When　nothing　is　done；　nothing　is　left　undone。　The　world　is　won　by　letting　things　take　their　own　course。
　　If　you　still　have　ambitions；　its　out　of　your　reach。

　　49

　　The　sage　has　no　set　mind。　She　adopts　the　concerns　of　others　as　her　own。
　　She　is　good　to　the　good。　She　is