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。 Chapter 81 True words aren't eloquent; eloquent words aren't true. Wise men don't need to prove their point; men who need to prove their point aren't wise. The Master has no possessions. The more he does for others, the happier he is. The more he gives to others, t…

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。 使人复结绳而用之，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。 Chapter 80 If a country is governed wisely, its inhabitants will be content. They enjoy the labor of their hands and don't waste time inventing labor-saving machines. Since they dearly love their homes, they aren't interested in travel. There may be…

第七十九章 和大怨，必有余怨，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。 Chapter 79 Failure is an opportunity. If you blame someone else, there is no end to the blame. Therefore the Master fulfills her own obligations and corrects her own mistakes. She does what she needs to do and demands nothing of others.由Cary Chan

第七十八章 天下莫柔弱于水，而攻坚强者莫之能胜，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。 Chapter 78 Nothing in the world is as soft and yielding as water. Yet for dissolving the hard and inflexible, nothing can surpass it. The soft overcomes the hard; the gentle overcomes the rigid. Everyone knows this is true, but few can put it into practice. T…

第七十七章 天之道，其犹张弓与？ 高者抑之，下者举之； 有余者损之，不足者补之。 天之道，损有余而补不足。 人之道则不然，损不足以奉有余。 孰能有余以奉天下？唯有道者。 是以圣人为而不恃，功成而不处，其不欲见贤。 Chapter 77 As it acts in the world, the Tao is like the bending of a bow. The top is bent downward; the bottom is bent up. It adjusts excess and deficiency so that there is perfect balance. It takes from what is too much and give to what isn't…

第七十六章 人之生也柔弱，其死也坚强。 万物草木之生也柔脆，其死也枯槁。 故坚强者死之徒，柔弱者生之徒。 是以兵强则不胜，木强则折。 强大处下，柔弱处上。 Chapter 76 Men are born soft and supple; dead, they are stiff and hard. Plants are born tender and pliant; dead, they are brittle and dry. Thus whoever is stiff and inflexible is a disciple of death. Whoever is soft and yielding is a disciple of life. The hard and stiff w…

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，以其求生之厚，是以轻死。 夫唯无以生为者，是贤于贵生。 Chapter 75 When taxes are too high, people go hungry. When the government is too intrusive, people lose their spirit. Act for the people's benefit. Trust them; leave them alone.由Cary Chan

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，是谓代大匠斫，夫代大匠斫者，稀有不伤其手矣。 Chapter 74 If you realize that all things change, there is nothing you will try to hold on to. If you aren't afraid of dying, there is nothing you can't achieve. Trying to control the future is like trying to take the master carpenter's place. When you handle the master …

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？ 是以圣人犹难之。 天之道，不争而善胜，不言而善应， 不召而自来，坦然而善谋。 天网恢恢，疏而不失。 Chapter 73 The Tao is always at ease. It overcomes without competing, answers without speaking a word, arrives without being summoned, accomplishes without a plan. Its net covers the whole universe. And though its meshes are wide, it doesn't let a thing slip t…

第七十二章 民不畏威，则大威至。 无狭其所居，无厌其所生。 夫唯无厌，是以不厌。 是以圣人自知不自见； 自爱不自贵。 故去彼取此。 Chapter 72 When they lose their sense of awe, people turn to religion. When they no longer trust themselves, they begin to depend upon authority. Therefore the Master steps back so that people won't be confused. He teaches without a teaching, so that people will have nothing to learn…

第七十一章 知不知，尚矣； 不知知，病矣。 夫唯病病，是以不病。 圣人之不病也，以其病病也，是不病。 Chapter 71 Not-knowing is true knowledge. Presuming to know is a disease. First realize that you are sick; then you can move toward health. The Master is her own physician. She has healed herself of all knowing. Thus she is truly whole.由Cary Chan

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。 知我者稀，则我者贵。 是以圣人披褐而怀玉。 Chapter 70 My teachings are easy to understand and easy to put into practice. Yet your intellect will never grasp them, and if you try to practice them, you'll fail. My teachings are older than the world. How can you grasp their meaning? If you want to know me, look inside your h…

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，仍无敌，执无兵。 祸莫大于轻敌，轻敌几丧吾宝。 故抗兵相加，哀者胜矣。 Chapter 69 The generals have a saying: "Rather than make the first move it is better to wait and see. Rather than advance an inch it is better to retreat a yard." This is called going forward without advancing, pushing back without using weapons. There is no greater misfo…

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。 Chapter 68 The best athlete wants his opponent at his best. The best general enters the mind of his enemy. The best businessman serves the communal good. The best leader follows the will of the people. All of them embody the virtue of non-competition. Not that they don't love to compe…

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。 Chapter 67 Some say that my teaching is nonsense. Others call it lofty but impractical. But to those who have looked inside themselves, this nonsense makes perfect sense. And to those who put it into practice, th…

第六十六章 江海所以能为百谷王者，以其善下之，故能为百谷王。 是以欲上民，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。 Chapter 66 All streams flow to the sea because it is lower than they are. Humility gives it its power. If you want to govern the people, you must place yourself below them. If you want to lead the people, you must learn how to follow them. The Maste…

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。 Chapter 65 The ancient Masters didn't try to educate the people, but kindly taught them to not-know. When they think that they know the answers, people are difficult to guide. When they know that they don't know, people can find their own way. If you…

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，起于垒土； 千里之行，始于足下。 为者败之，执者失之。 是以圣人无为，故无败， 无执，故无失。 民之从事，常于几成而败之。 不慎终也。 慎终如始，则无败事。 是以圣人欲不欲，不贵难得之货； 学不学，复众人之所过。 以辅万物之自然，而不敢为。 Chapter 64 What is rooted is easy to nourish. What is recent is easy to correct. What is brittle is easy to break. What is small is easy to scatter. Prevent trouble before…

第六十三章 为无为，事无事，味无味。 大小多少，报怨以德。 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。 Chapter 63 Act without doing; work without effort. Think of the small as large and the few as many. Confront the difficult while it is still easy; accomplish the great task by a series of small acts. The Master never reaches for the great; thu…

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？ 不曰以求得，有罪以免邪？ 故为天下贵。 Chapter 62 The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. Honors can be bought with fine words, respect can be won with good deeds; but the Tao is beyond all value, and no one can achieve it. Thus, wh…

第六十一章 大国者下流，天下之交，天下之牝，牝常以静胜牡，以静为下。 故大国以下小国，则取小国； 小国以下大国，则取大国。 故或下以取，或下而取。 大国不过欲兼畜人， 小国不过欲入事人。 夫两者各得其所欲， 大者宜为下。 Chapter 61 When a country obtains great power, it becomes like the sea: all streams run downward into it. The more powerful it grows, the greater the need for humility. Humility means trusting the Tao, thus never needing to be defensive. A…

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。 Chapter 60 Governing a large country is like frying a small fish. You spoil it with too much poking. Center your country in the Tao and evil will have no power. Not that it isn't there, but you'll be able to step out of its way. Give evil nothing to oppose and it will disappear by …

第五十九章 治人事天，莫若啬。 夫唯啬，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。 Chapter 59 For governing a country well there is nothing better than moderation. The mark of a moderate man is freedom from his own ideas. Tolerant like the sky, all-pervading like sunlight, firm like a mountain, supple like a tree in the wind, he has no dest…

第五十八章 其政闷闷，其民淳淳； 其政察察，其民缺缺。 祸兮福之所倚，福兮祸之所伏。 孰知其极？ 其无正，正复为奇，善复为妖，人之迷，其日固久。 是以圣人方而不割，廉而不刿，直而不肆，光而不耀。 Chapter 58 If a country is governed with tolerance, the people are comfortable and honest. If a country is governed with repression, the people are depressed and crafty. When the will to power is in charge, the higher the ideals, the lower the results.…

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； 民多利器，国家滋昏； 人多技巧，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。” Chapter 57 If you want to be a great leader, you must learn to follow the Tao. Stop trying to control. Let go of fixed plans and concepts, and the world will govern itself. The more prohibitions you have, the less virtuous peo…

第五十六章 知者不言，言者不知。 塞其兑，闭其门，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。 Chapter 56 Those who know don't talk. Those who talk don't know. Close your mouth, block off your senses, blunt your sharpness, untie your knots, soften your glare, settle your dust. This is the primal identity. Be like the Tao. It can't be approached or …

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。 未知牝牡之合而脧作，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。 Chapter 55 He who is in harmony with the Tao is like a newborn child. Its bones are soft, its muscles are weak, but its grip is powerful. It doesn't know about the union of male and female, yet its penis can stand erect, so intense is its v…

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，其德乃余； 修之于乡，其德乃长； 修之于国，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，以国观国，以天下观天下。 吾何以知天下然哉？以此。 Chapter 54 Whoever is planted in the Tao will not be rooted up. Whoever embraces the Tao will not slip away. Her name will be held in honor from generation to generation. Let the Tao be present in your life and you will bec…

第五十三章 使我介然有知， 行于大道，唯施是畏。 大道甚夷，而民好径。 朝甚除，田甚芜，仓甚虚； 服文彩，带利剑，厌饮食，财货有余。 是为盗夸。非道也哉﹗ Chapter 53 The great Way is easy, yet people prefer the side paths. Be aware when things are out of balance. Stay centered within the Tao. When rich speculators prosper While farmers lose their land; when government officials spend money on weapons instead of cures; when …

第五十二章 天下有始，以为天下母。 既得其母，以知其子； 既知其子，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，是为习常。 Chapter 52 In the beginning was the Tao. All things issue from it; all things return to it. To find the origin, trace back the manifestations. When you recognize the children and find the mother, you will be free of sorrow. If you close your mind…

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，亭之毒之，养之覆之。 生而不有，为而不恃， 长而不宰。 是谓玄德。 Chapter 51 Every being in the universe is an expression of the Tao. It springs into existence, unconscious, perfect, free, takes on a physical body, lets circumstances complete it. That is why every being spontaneously honors the Tao. The Tao give…

第五十章 出生入死。 生之徒，十有三； 死之徒，十有三； 人之生，动之死地，亦十有三。 夫何故？以其生生之厚。 盖闻善摄生者，陆行不遇兕虎，入军不被甲兵； 兕无所投其角，虎无所措其爪，兵无所容其刃。 夫何故？以其无死地。 Chapter 50 The Master gives himself up to whatever the moment brings. He knows that he is going to die, and he has nothing left to hold on to: no illusions in his mind, no resistances in his body. He doesn't think about his actions; they f…

第四十九章 圣人无常心， 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。 圣人在天下怵怵，为天下浑其心， 百姓皆注其耳目，圣人皆孩之。 Chapter 49 The Master has no mind of her own. She works with the mind of the people. She is good to people who are good. She is also good to people who aren't good. This is true goodness. She trusts people who are trustworthy. She also trusts people who aren'…

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。 Chapter 48 In pursuit of knowledge, every day something is added. In the practice of the Tao, every day something is dropped. Less and less do you need to force things, until finally you arrive at non-action. When nothing is done, nothing is left undone. True mastery can be gained by lett…

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， 不见而名，不为而成。 Chapter 47 Without opening your door, you can open your heart to the world. Without looking out your window, you can see the essence of the Tao. The more you know, the less you understand. The Master arrives without leaving, sees the light without looking, achieves without doing a thing.…

第四十六章 天下有道，却走马以粪。 天下无道，戎马生于郊。 罪莫大于可欲； 祸莫大于不知足； 咎莫大于欲得。 故知足之足，常足矣。 Chapter 46 When a country is in harmony with the Tao, the factories make trucks and tractors. When a country goes counter to the Tao, warheads are stockpiled outside the cities. There is no greater illusion than fear, no greater wrong than preparing to defend yourself, no greater mis…

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。 躁胜寒，静胜热。 清静为天下正。 Chapter 45 True perfection seems imperfect, yet it is perfectly itself. True fullness seems empty, yet it is fully present. True straightness seems crooked. True wisdom seems foolish. True art seems artless. The Master allows things to happen. She shapes events as they come. She steps out…

第四十四章 名与身孰亲？ 身与货孰多？ 得与亡孰病？ 是故甚爱必大费，多藏必厚亡， 知足不辱，知止不殆，可以长久。 Chapter 44 Fame or integrity: which is more important? Money or happiness: which is more valuable? Success or failure: which is more destructive? If you look to others for fulfillment, you will never truly be fulfilled. If your happiness depends on money, you will never be happy with yoursel…

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，天下稀及之。 Chapter 43 The gentlest thing in the world overcomes the hardest thing in the world. That which has no substance enters where there is no space. This shows the value of non-action. Teaching without word, performing without actions: that is the Master's way.…

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。 Chapter 42 The Tao gives birth to One. One gives birth to Two. Two gives birth to Three. Three gives birth to all things. All things have their backs to the female and stand facing the male. When male and female combine, all things achieve harmon…

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，夷道若纇， 上德若谷，大白若辱，广德若不足， 建德若偷，质真若渝， 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。 Chapter 41 When a superior man hears of the Tao, he immediately begins to embody it. When an average man hears of the Tao, he half believes it, half doubts it. When a foolish man hears of the Tao, he laughs out lo…

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。 Chapter 40 Return is the movement of the Tao. Yielding is the way of the Tao. All things are born of being. Being is born of non-being.由Cary Chan

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， 谷得一以盈， 万物得一以生， 侯王得一以为天下正。 其致之， 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， 侯王无以贵高将恐蹶。 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？ 故致数舆无舆，不欲琭琭如玉，珞珞如石。 Chapter 39 In harmony with the Tao, the sky is clear and spacious, the earth is solid and full, all creature flourish together, content with the way they are, endlessly…

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。 Chapter 38 The Master doesn't try to be powerful; thus he is truly powerful. The ordinary man keeps reaching for power; thus he never has enough. The Master does nothing, yet h…

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。 无名之朴，夫亦将无欲。 不欲以静，天下将自定。 Chapter 37 The Tao never does anything, yet through it all things are done. If powerful men and women could venter themselves in it, the whole world would be transformed by itself, in its natural rhythms. People would be content with their simple, everyday lives, in harmony, and…

第三十六章 将欲歙之，必固张之； 将欲弱之，必固强之； 将欲废之，必固兴之； 将欲夺之，必固与之。 是谓微明。 柔弱胜刚强。 鱼不可脱于渊， 国之利器不可以示人。 Chapter 36 If you want to shrink something, you must first allow it to expand. If you want to get rid of something, you must first allow it to flourish. If you want to take something, you must first allow it to be given. This is called the subtle perception of the way…

第三十五章 执大象，天下往。 往而不害，安平太。 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， 用之不可既。 Chapter 35 She who is centered in the Tao can go where she wishes, without danger. She perceives the universal harmony, even amid great pain, because she has found peace in her heart. Music or the smell of good cooking may make people stop and enjoy. But words that point to the Tao s…

第三十四章 大道泛兮，其可左右。 万物恃之而生，而不辞， 功成而不有。 衣养万物而不为主，常无欲， 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。 Chapter 34 The great Tao flows everywhere. All things are born from it, yet it doesn't create them. It pours itself into its work, yet it makes no claim. It nourishes infinite worlds, yet it doesn't hold on to them. Since it is merged with all things and hidden in…

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。 Chapter 33 Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power. If you realize that you have enough, you are truly rich. If you stay in the center and embrace death with your whole heart, you will endure forever.…

第三十二章 道常无名，朴虽小，天下莫能臣也。 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，知止所以不殆。 譬道之在天下，犹川谷之于江海。 Chapter 32 The Tao can't be perceived. Smaller than an electron, it contains uncountable galaxies. If powerful men and women could remain centered in the Tao, all things would be in harmony. The world would become a paradise. All people would be at pea…