Heaven and earth have no Jen, use everything as guinea pigs. Sages have no Jen, use people as guinea pigs. The Universe, as a bellows; Empty it, yet not bend. Move it, yet more yield. Say too much, less is understood. Better hold fast to the center.
Tao floods, never over flow, we use it, As a stream, as the source of everything. Blunt the sharp, Untangle the knotted, Soften the glare, Merge with dust. Hidden, yet seemingly present! I do not know from whence it comes. Forefather of gods.
Not respect sages, no argument. Not value treasures, no stealing. Not seeing desirable things, no confusion of the heart. Thus, sages rule by emptying people’s hearts (keep them ignorant), filling their bellies, weakening their ambitions, and strengtheningtheir bones. Let people ignorant and lack desire, Then, smart ones, afraid of doing (smart things), But doing Wu-Wei, [...]
Everyone loves beauty, because there is ugliness. Everyone loves goodness, because there is evil. Existence, non-existence beget each other. Difficult and easy complement each other. Long and short contrast each other. High and low rest upon each other. Voice and sound harmonize each other. Front and back follow each other. Therefore, sages doing without effort, [...]
Tao that can be spoke of, not the eternal Tao. Name that can be named, not the eternal name. Nameless, the beginning of heaven and earth. Named, mother of everything. Desireless, sees the mystery. Desiring, sees the manifestations. These two, from the same source, differ in name; both are original. Original of original, gate of [...]
