What's most full ＇opening＇ seems empty； itsuse will never fail。
The greatest abundance seems meagre indeed；but its use will never fail。
What's most straight seems devious； maybecrooked。
The greatest skills seems to be ＇rustic；＇clumsy。 The greatest cleverness appears like stupidity； ＇（Demon skill seemslike clumsiness。 Apt skill seems clumsy； true cleverness seems clumsy。＇
The greatest ＇harlequin＇ eloquence seemsto stutter or seems like stuttering。
Hasty movement overcomes cold。
Keeping still can overcome heat。 Tranquillityand staying still can overcome heat。
By being greatly still you'll next be fitto rule the world。 Who is calm and quiet becomes the universe deceit。 Byhis limpid calm he all the time puts right everything ＇as universal deceit＇。
46
When dao reigns in the kingdom； gallopinghorses are turned back to fertilise certain fields with their manure。 Ifthe world in accord with dao； racing horses are turned back to pull refusecarts。
When the world hardly lives in accord withdao； dao doesn't prevail or win。 Next war horses will be reared even ona sacred hill below the city walls； and blatant cavalry will frolic inthe countryside； driving and riding pestering war horses in suburbs inbetween。 Dao does hardly prevail if war is on in city suburbs。
No lure is greater than to possess what otherswant。
There's no greater guilt than ＇sudden＇ discontent。There's （。。。） greater disaster than greed。＇Eventually＇ there's hardlya greater sin than desire for possession。
No disaster could be greater than ＇。。。＇ tobe content with what one has ＇in dire need and disabling poverty＇。 No presageof ＇airy＇ evil is greater than men wanting to get more。
He who has once known the pure ＇orgasm＇ contentmentthat comes simply through being content ＇at its peak＇； gets rather content…centreda long time after。
47
One can know whats happening all over theworld without going out of doors。
One can see the dao of the big wide beyondhere without looking out of ones windows； and see all the ways of thatbeyond…here。
Then； the further one travels the less oneknows。
So the wise man can ＇at times＇ arrive withoutgoing and know without going about； he can understand much without seeing…
or achieve much without ＇visible＇ action。
48
The student of knowledge goes into learninga little day by day；
The student of dao reduces his assets bydwindling or losing a bit each day。
Learning consists in adding daily to one'sstock； and the practice of dao consists in loose dwindling day by day。It could be subtracting till one has reached inactivity。 By steady reductions＇of certain sorts＇ you reach certain sorts of laissez…faire。 So decreaseand further decrease until you reach the point of taking no action。
＇This is clowning。＇ By artful inactivityeverything ＇bad＇ can be set in motion。
He who conquers the ＇inside＇ domain doesso ＇mostly＇ by doing nothing。 Those who once won the adherence of all wholive here； did so by not interfering much。
Had they interfered； they would never havewon this adherence。
One who likes to do； may not be able to rulea kingdom ＇inside or outside＇。
49
The wise man makes no judgements of his own。He has no rigid and plump ideas alone。 Maybe no certain； opinionated feelings。
He uses the heart of the people as his owninner side and heart。 People's opinions and feeling are then as his own。
He says：
Good ones I declare good； and I ＇often＇ treatthose who are good with goodness； as I approve of the good man。
I also treat those who are not so good withgoodness。
I often approve of the ＇said＇ bad； he getsgoodness。
So bad ones I also declare good。 That's thegoodness on how goodness can be attained ＇by demagogy。＇
The honest ones I believe； and ＇some＇ liarsI also believe；
I am honest to those who are honest； andI am also honest to those who are not ＇so＇ honest。 By such means greathonesty； the faith of virtue； can be attained and the honest gets ＇closerto rueful＇ truthfulness。
In dealing with the world a wise man seemslike one dazed with a felt fear； and while governing his ＇little＇ empirehe has no subjective viewpoint。
So a wise man lives in the world in peace；and his bright mind forms a sound whole with that of his ＇dear＇ people。
Then they all lend their sense perceptions… eyes and ears … and he treats them all … infants as well。 But sometimesagain a wise man； dealings with some world； for the world's sake dullshis wits。
Where a hundred families all the time straintheir eyes and ears； the wise man all…sees a people are brought into afold of one heart。 Next the wise man regards them as his own dear children。
At times the wise man sees and hears no morethan an infant。＇thats not much。＇
50
He who aims at life could achieve his death。Out of living； death pops up。 Who comes to life can go to death。
If three out of ten are life companions；then the same number are death companions as well。 As such the latter arelabelled death…spots： some take life； through activity； to death。
How is it？
Its much due to men's intensive strivingafter life； in part the intense activity of multiplying life。 Some do feedlife too grossly。
It's said that he who is a good preserverof his life can meet no tigers or wild buffaloes on land。 Such a one couldhave a true hold on life；
If so； in battle or fighting he should hardlytry to escape from weapons。 He should neither get very much touched norvulnerable to weapons in battle。＇Cf。 dont be there＇
The wild buffalo cannot butt its powerlesshorns against him；
The tiger cannot fasten its then uselessclaws in him and tear him apart；
And much absent weapons of war should findno place to enter … cannot thrust their blades into him。＇The absent partis always to blame。 Demagogy＇
And why？ （Demagogy； thats why＇
In him there's no room for death becausehe is beyond death。 Others find no Achilles heel in him then and there。
51
One dao gives them birth； next hidden virtueand glory fosters them。
Matter gives them physical form。 some getshaped according to intrinsic designs； perfected by first being allottedits primal strength。
Sets of circumstances and tendencies completethem。
So all things of the universe worship theirintrinsic ways （dao forms） and honour virtue。
There's hardly one who doesn't honour inbornmodes of living and standard accommodations； so in one way or other allwho accommodate likeably do homage to set dao structure； and concomitantnative； later； possibly unfolded growth power。 Conclusion： all things ofthe universe honour dao and exalt good te without being ordered by anybody。
From this： the right praise always come spontaneously。And this is so of its own accord。
Proficient dao hardly needs any right tobe worshipped； Hardly does its best fit； proper unfoldment prowess or powerclaim the right to be honoured。 Its just like this： Some dao produces themand concomitant； abundant virtue fosters them。 Said in other words：
The right dao gives them birth；
a proper te fosters them； Dao ＇deep structure＇and might enough can rear and develop； can feed； nurture and shelter。 Inother words： grant some harbour of security； protect and give deep； strongpeace in a place fit for that end。
Just the right dao could be a prolongationof some deft was always and of itself so。
Yes； the right dao gives birth； shields fromstorms； and seems hardly possessive。 The right shields hardly lay claimto you。
Good dao bore you and the power〃 of dao evolvedor reared you （a bit）； made you grow ＇naturally； according to innate designs＇brewed for you personally； sort of。
A man must rear others； control some； butnever lean upon them。
By such natural designs just dao can actand also help； but it hardly appropriates。
Just be chief among them； but hardly managethem。 This can be called the superior power。 See： The superior power hardlycontrols anybody！
And this is the ＇program of developing fit＇mystic might。
52
There was a ＇bang＇ start of the universe；call it the mother of the world。
Who has found that mother dao； also understands＇some of＇ her sons （things） by it。 From the mother； we can know her sons。
Having understood some sons； yet keep tothe inner； subtle mother。
Who has known the sons will hold to the mother；for one's whole life can be protected from danger by it。＇So they say。＇
Shut down life's various openings。 Close itsdoors； and till the end your strength may remain。 Next； your whole lifecan seem without toil。
On the other hand； open the mouth busy aboutaffairs； and to the end of life there will be no help or salvation comingto you ＇from the outer realm＇。
Good sight implies seeing what's very small。Seeing what's small is called ＇Zen＇ enlightenment。
Who stays by some good conduct is strong。So use the light and return to clear sight through the bright light ofthe subtle； shining inner realm ＇debated in Buddhism＇
By this art； never cause yourself futuredistress； ＇but see well in advance by the inner realm's sight and brightlight； or just psyche such things out；＇ thereby preserved from most harm。
This is called resorting to the always…so；or practising the eternal。
That act is also called to steal the absolute。
53
Once started on the great ＇lax＇ highway；if I had but little ＇Vossing＇ knowledge I should； in walking on a broadway； fear getting off the road。 On the main path （dao）； I would avoid theby…paths。
Some dao main path is easy to walk ＇or drift＇on； but safe and easy。
All the same people are fond； men love by…paths；love even small by…paths：
The by…path courts are spick…and…span。 Andthe fields go untilled； nay； exceedingly weedy。 They're content to lettheir fields run to weed。
All the while granaries stand quite emptyand some exceedingly empty。
They have elegant； in clothes and gown towear； some furnished with patterns and embroideries；
Some carry sharp weapons； glut themselveswith drink and
foods enjoyed beyond limit；
And wealth and treasures are accumulatedin excess； owning far more than they can handle and use。