Chapter 13

大道氾兮其可左右•萬物恃之(以)生而不辭•功成遂[而]不名有•衣養萬物而不為主[(•)故]常無欲•可名於小•萬物歸焉而不為主可名(於)大•(是以聖人之能成大•)[以其不為大•](•)故能成__大Great Dao is like a vast flood!It is able to flow left and right.The ten thousand creatures depend on it in order for life,And are not rejected.It accomplishes its tasks successfully,Yet does not possess a name.It clothes and supports the ten thousand creatures,But does not act as their master.Therefore : since it is ever-constantly without-desire,It can then be named insignificant.Since the ten thousand creatures return to itBut it does not act as their master,It can then be named great.Thus the sage can achieve greatnessBecause he does not act great.Therefore he can achieve greatness.GreatDaois like avast flood!♦Itisableto flowleftandright.ATheten thousandcreaturesdepend onitin order forlife,andarenotrejected.                                     [decline,dismiss]Itaccomplishesitstaskssuccessfully,yetdoesnotpossessaname.                                     [results,achievements]Itclothesandsupportstheten thousandcreatures,Butdoesnotactas theirmaster.Therefore: since it isever-constantlywithout-desire,♦Itcanthenbenamedinsignificant.♦Since theten thousandcreaturesreturntoitButit doesnotactas theirmaster,Itcanthenbenamedgreat.Thus2thesage2[he]canachievegreatnessBecausehedoesnotactgreat.Thereforehecanachievegreatness.BNotesA :in other words, everywhereB : the last three lines are significantly different between sources.  What is used here comes from the MWD’s, and FY says the exact same thing with slightly different symbols (thus making it the majority).  But HSG readsThus2thesage2iswhole, but doesnotactgreat.Thereforehecanachievehisgreatness.And WB reads (with no reference to the sage, presumably still referring to Dao from earlier in the chapter)Becauseitiswhole, itnaturallydoesnotactgreat.Thereforeitcanachieveitsgreatness.WB also switched from saying the sage is great to Dao is great in #67Cross-referencesgreat Dao : #18, #53accomplishing tasks : #2, #9, #17, #77always/ever-constantly without X : #1, #32, #37without-desire : #1, #3, #37, #57returning : #14, #16, #19, #20, #22, #25, #28, #40, #52,#58, #60, #64, #65, #80sage can achieve greatness : #63Chapter Thirty Five執大象天下往往而不害安平太•樂與餌過客止道之出(言)淡(呵)其無味•視之不足見•聽之不足聞•用之不足既•Holding fast to the great image,The entire world comes towards you.Comes towards you, and meeting with no harm,There is the greatest peace and calm.Music together with good food make passing guests stay,But Dao’s words are bland!They are without flavor.Look for it, there is not enough to see.Listen for it, there is not enough to hear.Use it, there is not enough to exhaust.♦Holding fastto thegreatimage,♦The [entire]world2comes towardsyou.♦Comes towardsyou,and[meeting with]Anoharm,There is thegreatestpeace and calm2.                                                                             [peace,calmcalm,peace]Musictogether withgood foodmakepassingguestsstay,                                                                                  [cakes]ButDao’swords2arebland!B♦Theyarewithoutflavor.♦Lookforit, there isnotenoughtosee.♦Listenforit, there isnotenoughtohear.Useit, there isnotenoughtoexhaust°.NotesA : “doing” could just as easily be used here, but since the sage is the one who does no harm in #58, #60, and #66, “meeting with” is usedB : the sentence-as-a-whole can be interpreted in two different ways (see the Introduction) : “speaking about Dao” or “the words that come out of Dao” (which is used here); also note that in the majority of the sources this line is a statement, not a questionCross-referencesno harm : #56, #58, #60, #66, #81look, not seenandlisten, not heard : #14use does not exhaust : #4, #5Chapter Thirty Six將欲歙之必固張之將欲弱之必固強之將欲廢之必固興之•將欲奪之必固與之是謂微明•柔弱勝剛強魚不可脫於淵國之利器不可以示人•When you are about to gather something,You must have originally spread it out.When you are about to weaken something,You must have originally strengthened it.When you are about to abandon something,You must have originally been interested in it.When you are about to seize something,You must have originally given it.This is called subtle and obscure insight.What is soft and weak conquers what is hard and strong.Fish can not escape from the deep;The sharp tools of the nationCan not be shown to the people.When you areabout to2gatherAsomething,       [inhale] [it]Youmusthaveoriginallyspreaditout.♦When you areabout to2weakensomething,              [it]Youmusthaveoriginallystrengthenedit.When you areabout to2abandonsomething,               [it]Youmusthaveoriginallybeeninterestedinit.♦When you areabout to2seizesomething,                       [it]Youmusthaveoriginallygivenit.This iscalledsubtle and obscureinsight.[wise,sight]What issoftandweakconquerswhat ishardandstrong.                                                                [victorious,beats]Fishcannotescapefromthedeep;ThesharptoolsBofthenation♦Can2notbeshownto thepeople.NotesA : while the majority symbol here means “inhale”, MWD/A uses a symbol meaning to “pick up” or “collect”B :presumably, weapons; compare to #80, where there is no place to display armor and weaponsCross-referencesweak : #3, #29, #40, #55, #76, #78strong : #3, #29, #30, #33, #52, #55, #67, #78soft : #10, #43, #52, #55, #76, #78hard : #43, #76, #78soft conquers hard : #43, #78sharp tools : #57Chapter Thirty Seven道常無為•而無不為•侯王若能守之萬物將自化化而欲作吾將鎮之以無名之樸無名之樸夫亦將無欲不欲以靜天下將自定•Dao ever-constantly practices non-action,Yet nothing is left undone.If nobles and kings could maintain it,The ten thousand creatures would naturally transform.Transform, and if desire arises,I would restrain it by means of the nameless uncarvedblock.In the state of the nameless uncarved block,Men also would be without-desire.Not desiring, thus they would be still –And the world would naturally settle.Daoever-constantly[practices]non-action,Yetnothingis leftundone2.            [notmade,become,act]IfnoblesAandkingscouldmaintainit,♦Theten thousandcreatureswouldnaturallytransform.♦Transform,andifdesirearises,Iwouldrestrainitby means ofthenameless2B[à]uncarved block.         [subdue,supress] [without-name]In the [state of the]nameless2B[à]uncarved block,                                                                    [without-name]Menalsowouldbewithout-desire.Notdesiring,thusthey would bestill–And theworld2wouldnaturallysettle.NotesA : specifically, a Marquis (see #32)B : this is actually “without-name” (see the Introduction and cross-references below), but cannot be easily worded that way hereCross-referencesalways/ever-constantly without X : #1, #32, #34non-action : #2, #3, #38, #43, #48, #57, #63, #64yet nothing is left undone : #48nobles (in general) : #32, #39, #42, #62, #80if nobles and kings could maintain it : #32ten thousand creatures would naturally… : #32without-name : #1, #32, #41uncarved block : #15, #19, #28, #32, #57uncarved block brings without-desire : #57without-desire : #1, #3, #34, #57stillness : #15, #16, #26, #45, #57, #61Chapter Thirty Eight

大道氾兮其可左右•萬物恃之(以)生而不辭•功成遂[而]不名有•衣養萬物而不為主[(•)故]常無欲•可名於小•萬物歸焉而不為主可名(於)大•(是以聖人之能成大•)[以其不為大•](•)故能成__大Great Dao is like a vast flood!It is able to flow left and right.The ten thousand creatures depend on it in order for life,And are not rejected.It accomplishes its tasks successfully,Yet does not possess a name.It clothes and supports the ten thousand creatures,But does not act as their master.Therefore : since it is ever-constantly without-desire,It can then be named insignificant.Since the ten thousand creatures return to itBut it does not act as their master,It can then be named great.Thus the sage can achieve greatnessBecause he does not act great.Therefore he can achieve greatness.GreatDaois like avast flood!♦Itisableto flowleftandright.ATheten thousandcreaturesdepend onitin order forlife,andarenotrejected.                                     [decline,dismiss]Itaccomplishesitstaskssuccessfully,yetdoesnotpossessaname.                                     [results,achievements]Itclothesandsupportstheten thousandcreatures,Butdoesnotactas theirmaster.Therefore: since it isever-constantlywithout-desire,♦Itcanthenbenamedinsignificant.♦Since theten thousandcreaturesreturntoitButit doesnotactas theirmaster,Itcanthenbenamedgreat.Thus2thesage2[he]canachievegreatnessBecausehedoesnotactgreat.Thereforehecanachievegreatness.BNotesA :in other words, everywhereB : the last three lines are significantly different between sources.  What is used here comes from the MWD’s, and FY says the exact same thing with slightly different symbols (thus making it the majority).  But HSG readsThus2thesage2iswhole, but doesnotactgreat.Thereforehecanachievehisgreatness.And WB reads (with no reference to the sage, presumably still referring to Dao from earlier in the chapter)Becauseitiswhole, itnaturallydoesnotactgreat.Thereforeitcanachieveitsgreatness.WB also switched from saying the sage is great to Dao is great in #67Cross-referencesgreat Dao : #18, #53accomplishing tasks : #2, #9, #17, #77always/ever-constantly without X : #1, #32, #37without-desire : #1, #3, #37, #57returning : #14, #16, #19, #20, #22, #25, #28, #40, #52,#58, #60, #64, #65, #80sage can achieve greatness : #63

大道氾兮

其可左右•

萬物恃之(以)生

而不辭•

功成遂

[而]不名有•

衣養萬物

而不為主

[(•)故]常無欲•

可名於小•

萬物歸焉

而不為主

可名(於)大•

(是以聖人之能成大•)

[以其不為大•]

(•)故能成__大

Great Dao is like a vast flood!

It is able to flow left and right.

The ten thousand creatures depend on it in order for life,

And are not rejected.

It accomplishes its tasks successfully,

Yet does not possess a name.

It clothes and supports the ten thousand creatures,

But does not act as their master.

Therefore : since it is ever-constantly without-desire,

It can then be named insignificant.

Since the ten thousand creatures return to it

But it does not act as their master,

It can then be named great.

Thus the sage can achieve greatness

Because he does not act great.

Therefore he can achieve greatness.

GreatDaois like avast flood!

♦Itisableto flowleftandright.A

Theten thousandcreaturesdepend onitin order forlife,

andarenotrejected.                                     [decline,dismiss]

Itaccomplishesitstaskssuccessfully,yetdoesnotpossess

aname.                                     [results,achievements]

Itclothesandsupportstheten thousandcreatures,

Butdoesnotactas theirmaster.

Therefore: since it isever-constantlywithout-desire,

♦Itcanthenbenamedinsignificant.

♦Since theten thousandcreaturesreturntoit

Butit doesnotactas theirmaster,

Itcanthenbenamedgreat.

Thus2thesage2[he]canachievegreatness

Becausehedoesnotactgreat.

Thereforehecanachievegreatness.B

Notes

A :in other words, everywhere

B : the last three lines are significantly different between sources.  What is used here comes from the MWD’s, and FY says the exact same thing with slightly different symbols (thus making it the majority).  But HSG reads

Thus2thesage2iswhole, but doesnotactgreat.

Thereforehecanachievehisgreatness.

And WB reads (with no reference to the sage, presumably still referring to Dao from earlier in the chapter)

Becauseitiswhole, itnaturallydoesnotactgreat.

Thereforeitcanachieveitsgreatness.

WB also switched from saying the sage is great to Dao is great in #67

Cross-references

great Dao : #18, #53

accomplishing tasks : #2, #9, #17, #77

always/ever-constantly without X : #1, #32, #37

without-desire : #1, #3, #37, #57

returning : #14, #16, #19, #20, #22, #25, #28, #40, #52,

#58, #60, #64, #65, #80

sage can achieve greatness : #63

Chapter Thirty Five

執大象天下往往而不害安平太•樂與餌過客止道之出(言)淡(呵)其無味•視之不足見•聽之不足聞•用之不足既•Holding fast to the great image,The entire world comes towards you.Comes towards you, and meeting with no harm,There is the greatest peace and calm.Music together with good food make passing guests stay,But Dao’s words are bland!They are without flavor.Look for it, there is not enough to see.Listen for it, there is not enough to hear.Use it, there is not enough to exhaust.♦Holding fastto thegreatimage,♦The [entire]world2comes towardsyou.♦Comes towardsyou,and[meeting with]Anoharm,There is thegreatestpeace and calm2.                                                                             [peace,calmcalm,peace]Musictogether withgood foodmakepassingguestsstay,                                                                                  [cakes]ButDao’swords2arebland!B♦Theyarewithoutflavor.♦Lookforit, there isnotenoughtosee.♦Listenforit, there isnotenoughtohear.Useit, there isnotenoughtoexhaust°.NotesA : “doing” could just as easily be used here, but since the sage is the one who does no harm in #58, #60, and #66, “meeting with” is usedB : the sentence-as-a-whole can be interpreted in two different ways (see the Introduction) : “speaking about Dao” or “the words that come out of Dao” (which is used here); also note that in the majority of the sources this line is a statement, not a questionCross-referencesno harm : #56, #58, #60, #66, #81look, not seenandlisten, not heard : #14use does not exhaust : #4, #5

執大象

天下往

往而不害

安平太•

樂與餌過客止

道之出(言)淡(呵)

其無味•

視之不足見•

聽之不足聞•

用之不足既•

Holding fast to the great image,

The entire world comes towards you.

Comes towards you, and meeting with no harm,

There is the greatest peace and calm.

Music together with good food make passing guests stay,

But Dao’s words are bland!

They are without flavor.

Look for it, there is not enough to see.

Listen for it, there is not enough to hear.

Use it, there is not enough to exhaust.

♦Holding fastto thegreatimage,

♦The [entire]world2comes towardsyou.

♦Comes towardsyou,and[meeting with]Anoharm,

There is thegreatestpeace and calm2.                                                                             [peace,calmcalm,peace]

Musictogether withgood foodmakepassingguestsstay,                                                                                  [cakes]

ButDao’swords2arebland!B

♦Theyarewithoutflavor.

♦Lookforit, there isnotenoughtosee.

♦Listenforit, there isnotenoughtohear.

Useit, there isnotenoughtoexhaust°.

Notes

A : “doing” could just as easily be used here, but since the sage is the one who does no harm in #58, #60, and #66, “meeting with” is used

B : the sentence-as-a-whole can be interpreted in two different ways (see the Introduction) : “speaking about Dao” or “the words that come out of Dao” (which is used here); also note that in the majority of the sources this line is a statement, not a question

Cross-references

no harm : #56, #58, #60, #66, #81

look, not seenandlisten, not heard : #14

use does not exhaust : #4, #5

Chapter Thirty Six

將欲歙之必固張之將欲弱之必固強之將欲廢之必固興之•將欲奪之必固與之是謂微明•柔弱勝剛強魚不可脫於淵國之利器不可以示人•When you are about to gather something,You must have originally spread it out.When you are about to weaken something,You must have originally strengthened it.When you are about to abandon something,You must have originally been interested in it.When you are about to seize something,You must have originally given it.This is called subtle and obscure insight.What is soft and weak conquers what is hard and strong.Fish can not escape from the deep;The sharp tools of the nationCan not be shown to the people.When you areabout to2gatherAsomething,       [inhale] [it]Youmusthaveoriginallyspreaditout.♦When you areabout to2weakensomething,              [it]Youmusthaveoriginallystrengthenedit.When you areabout to2abandonsomething,               [it]Youmusthaveoriginallybeeninterestedinit.♦When you areabout to2seizesomething,                       [it]Youmusthaveoriginallygivenit.This iscalledsubtle and obscureinsight.[wise,sight]What issoftandweakconquerswhat ishardandstrong.                                                                [victorious,beats]Fishcannotescapefromthedeep;ThesharptoolsBofthenation♦Can2notbeshownto thepeople.NotesA : while the majority symbol here means “inhale”, MWD/A uses a symbol meaning to “pick up” or “collect”B :presumably, weapons; compare to #80, where there is no place to display armor and weaponsCross-referencesweak : #3, #29, #40, #55, #76, #78strong : #3, #29, #30, #33, #52, #55, #67, #78soft : #10, #43, #52, #55, #76, #78hard : #43, #76, #78soft conquers hard : #43, #78sharp tools : #57

將欲歙之

必固張之

將欲弱之

必固強之

將欲廢之

必固興之•

將欲奪之

必固與之

是謂微明•

柔弱勝剛強

魚不可脫於淵

國之利器

不可以示人•

When you are about to gather something,

You must have originally spread it out.

When you are about to weaken something,

You must have originally strengthened it.

When you are about to abandon something,

You must have originally been interested in it.

When you are about to seize something,

You must have originally given it.

This is called subtle and obscure insight.

What is soft and weak conquers what is hard and strong.

Fish can not escape from the deep;

The sharp tools of the nation

Can not be shown to the people.

When you areabout to2gatherAsomething,       [inhale] [it]

Youmusthaveoriginallyspreaditout.

♦When you areabout to2weakensomething,              [it]

Youmusthaveoriginallystrengthenedit.

When you areabout to2abandonsomething,               [it]

Youmusthaveoriginallybeeninterestedinit.

♦When you areabout to2seizesomething,                       [it]

Youmusthaveoriginallygivenit.

This iscalledsubtle and obscureinsight.[wise,sight]

What issoftandweakconquerswhat ishardandstrong.                                                                [victorious,beats]

Fishcannotescapefromthedeep;

ThesharptoolsBofthenation

♦Can2notbeshownto thepeople.

Notes

A : while the majority symbol here means “inhale”, MWD/A uses a symbol meaning to “pick up” or “collect”

B :presumably, weapons; compare to #80, where there is no place to display armor and weapons

Cross-references

weak : #3, #29, #40, #55, #76, #78

strong : #3, #29, #30, #33, #52, #55, #67, #78

soft : #10, #43, #52, #55, #76, #78

hard : #43, #76, #78

soft conquers hard : #43, #78

sharp tools : #57

Chapter Thirty Seven

道常無為•而無不為•侯王若能守之萬物將自化化而欲作吾將鎮之以無名之樸無名之樸夫亦將無欲不欲以靜天下將自定•Dao ever-constantly practices non-action,Yet nothing is left undone.If nobles and kings could maintain it,The ten thousand creatures would naturally transform.Transform, and if desire arises,I would restrain it by means of the nameless uncarvedblock.In the state of the nameless uncarved block,Men also would be without-desire.Not desiring, thus they would be still –And the world would naturally settle.Daoever-constantly[practices]non-action,Yetnothingis leftundone2.            [notmade,become,act]IfnoblesAandkingscouldmaintainit,♦Theten thousandcreatureswouldnaturallytransform.♦Transform,andifdesirearises,Iwouldrestrainitby means ofthenameless2B[à]uncarved block.         [subdue,supress] [without-name]In the [state of the]nameless2B[à]uncarved block,                                                                    [without-name]Menalsowouldbewithout-desire.Notdesiring,thusthey would bestill–And theworld2wouldnaturallysettle.NotesA : specifically, a Marquis (see #32)B : this is actually “without-name” (see the Introduction and cross-references below), but cannot be easily worded that way hereCross-referencesalways/ever-constantly without X : #1, #32, #34non-action : #2, #3, #38, #43, #48, #57, #63, #64yet nothing is left undone : #48nobles (in general) : #32, #39, #42, #62, #80if nobles and kings could maintain it : #32ten thousand creatures would naturally… : #32without-name : #1, #32, #41uncarved block : #15, #19, #28, #32, #57uncarved block brings without-desire : #57without-desire : #1, #3, #34, #57stillness : #15, #16, #26, #45, #57, #61

道常無為•

而無不為•

侯王若能守之

萬物將自化

化而欲作

吾將鎮之以無名之樸

無名之樸

夫亦將無欲

不欲以靜

天下將自定•

Dao ever-constantly practices non-action,

Yet nothing is left undone.

If nobles and kings could maintain it,

The ten thousand creatures would naturally transform.

Transform, and if desire arises,

I would restrain it by means of the nameless uncarved

block.

In the state of the nameless uncarved block,

Men also would be without-desire.

Not desiring, thus they would be still –

And the world would naturally settle.

Daoever-constantly[practices]non-action,

Yetnothingis leftundone2.            [notmade,become,act]

IfnoblesAandkingscouldmaintainit,

♦Theten thousandcreatureswouldnaturallytransform.

♦Transform,andifdesirearises,

Iwouldrestrainitby means ofthenameless2B[à]

uncarved block.         [subdue,supress] [without-name]

In the [state of the]nameless2B[à]uncarved block,                                                                    [without-name]

Menalsowouldbewithout-desire.

Notdesiring,thusthey would bestill–

And theworld2wouldnaturallysettle.

Notes

A : specifically, a Marquis (see #32)

B : this is actually “without-name” (see the Introduction and cross-references below), but cannot be easily worded that way here

Cross-references

always/ever-constantly without X : #1, #32, #34

non-action : #2, #3, #38, #43, #48, #57, #63, #64

yet nothing is left undone : #48

nobles (in general) : #32, #39, #42, #62, #80

if nobles and kings could maintain it : #32

ten thousand creatures would naturally… : #32

without-name : #1, #32, #41

uncarved block : #15, #19, #28, #32, #57

uncarved block brings without-desire : #57

without-desire : #1, #3, #34, #57

stillness : #15, #16, #26, #45, #57, #61

Chapter Thirty Eight

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