天下之至柔馳騁天下之至堅無有入無間吾是以知無為之有益•不言之教無為之益天下希及之•The softest things of the worldOverrun the hardest things of the world.Non-being can enter where there is no space in between.Thus I know that non-action has benefits.The teaching of no-talking,The benefit of non-action –Few in the world attain these.♦Thesoftest2thingsoftheworld2[mostsoft]Overrunthehardest2thingsoftheworld2. [gallop2] [mosthard]Non-beingcanenterwhere there isnospace in between.♦Thus2Iknowthatnon-action[it]hasbenefits.♦Theteachingofno-talking,♦Thebenefitofnon-action–Fewin theworld2attainthese. [rare,infrequent] [them]NotesCross-referencessoft : #10, #36, #52, #55, #76, #78hard : #36, #76, #78soft conquers hard : #36, #78non-being : #2, #40non-action : #2, #3, #37, #38, #48, #57, #63, #64teaching : #2, #27, #42teaching of no-talking : #2Chapter Forty Four名與身孰親身與貨孰多得與亡孰病甚愛必大費多藏必厚亡知足不辱知止不殆可以長久Fame and self : which do you love?Self and property : which is greater?Gain and loss : which is the affliction?Extreme desire must lead to great expense.Collecting too much must lead to substantial loss.Knowing when you have enough, there can be no disgrace.Knowing when to stop, there can be no danger.Then you can forever endure.♦Fameandself:whichdo youlove?♦Selfandproperty:whichisgreater? [many,much,more]♦Gainandloss:whichis theaffliction? [sickness,illness]♦Extremedesiremustlead togreatexpense. [like,affection]♦Collectingtoo muchmustlead tosubstantialloss.♦Knowingwhen you haveenough, there can benodisgrace.♦Knowingwhen tostop, there can benodanger.♦Then youcan2foreverendure. [for a long time]NotesWith the exception of a couple of “therefore”’s in some sources but not others, this is the only chapter for which virtually every symbol is identical across all sources!Cross-referencesself : #7, #9, #13, #16, #26, #52, #54, #66knowing you have enough : #33, #46knowing when to stop : #32no danger : #16, #25, #32, #52can forever endure : #59Chapter Forty Five大成若缺其用不弊•大盈若(盅)其用不窮•大直若屈•大巧若拙•大辯若訥•躁勝寒•靜勝熱清靜為天下正•Great achievement seems incomplete,But its usefulness is not impaired.Great fullness is like a cup or bowl,Its usefulness is not exhausted.Great straightness seems bent.Great skillfulness seems clumsy.Great debaters seem slow of speech.Restlessness conquers cold.Stillness conquers heat.Purity and clarity along with stillness makes the worldproper and correct.Greatachievementseemsincomplete, [lacking]Butitsusefulnessisnotimpaired. [harmed]Greatfullnessislikeacup or bowlA,Itsusefulnessisnotexhausted.Greatstraightnessseemsbent.Greatskillfulnessseemsclumsy.BGreatdebatersseemslow of speechC.♦Restlessnessconquerscold. [victorious,beats]♦Stillnessconquersheat. [victorious,beats]Purityand clarityDalong withstillnessDmakestheworld2proper and correct{honest and just}.NotesA : the symbol used here only appears in 1/5 sources, but gives the most understandable translation (and matches the first line in #4)B : this line could just as likely be translated asGreatclevernessseemsstupid.C : this is a euphemism for stammering, but also represents a personal quality that Confucius recommended people cultivateD :presumably referring to inner, mental/emotional qualitiesCross-referencesstillness : #15, #16, #26, #37, #57, #61stillnessandrestlessness : #26Chapter Forty Six天下有道卻走馬以糞天下無道戎馬生於郊•(罪莫大於可欲)禍莫大於不知足咎莫大於欲得(•)故知足之足常足矣(•) •When the world possesses Dao,Riding horses are nonetheless used for manure.When the world is without Dao,War-horses are bred in the countryside.There is no fault greater than the capacity for desire.There is no misfortune greater than not knowing whenyou have enough.There is no error greater than desire for gain.Therefore : knowing the sufficiency of having enough,there is always enough!♦When theworld2possessesDao,♦Ridinghorsesarenonethelessusedformanure. [still,yet,however]♦When theworld2iswithoutDao,♦War-horsesarebredinthecountryside.[military] [produced] [open spaces/outskirts]♦There is nofaultgreaterthanthecapacityfordesire.A[ability]♦There is nomisfortunegreaterthannotknowingwhenyou haveenough.♦There is noerrorgreaterthandesireforgain.Therefore:knowingthesufficiencyofhavingenough,there isalwaysenough!BNotesA : this line is in every source except WBB : The core of this sentence is “足of足always足”, where足can mean “enough”, “sufficient”, or possibly “satisfaction” (and by interpretation, “contentment”), so it can be translated in many ways; while I usually use the same English word for each symbol (when appropriate), in this case it seems clearer to use different words with equivalent meanings within the same sentence; this would be similar to changing the phrase “appears to have appeared” to “seems to have appeared”Cross-referencesknowing you have enough : #33, #44Chapter Forty Seven不出戶[以]知天下不闚牖[以] (知)天道其出彌遠其知彌少是以聖人不行而知不見而名不為而成You do not have to go out the doorIn order to to know the world.You do not have to look out the windowIn order to to know the Way of heaven.The farther you go out,You know even less.Thus the sage :Does not travel, yet knows.Does not display himself, yet has a reputation.Does not act, yet accomplishes.You donothave togo outthedoorIn order totoknowtheworld2.You donothave tolook outthewindow[peep,spy]In order totoknowtheWayofheaven.♦Thefarther2yougo out, [even moredistance] [he]Youknoweven[more]less. [he]Thus2thesage2:Doesnottravel,yetknows.Doesnotdisplayhimself,yethas areputation. [show]♦Doesnotact,yetaccomplishes.NotesCross-referencesWay of heaven : #9, #73, #77, #79, #81not displaying oneself (showing off) : #22, #24, #72, #77Chapter Forty Eight
天下之至柔馳騁天下之至堅無有入無間吾是以知無為之有益•不言之教無為之益天下希及之•The softest things of the worldOverrun the hardest things of the world.Non-being can enter where there is no space in between.Thus I know that non-action has benefits.The teaching of no-talking,The benefit of non-action –Few in the world attain these.♦Thesoftest2thingsoftheworld2[mostsoft]Overrunthehardest2thingsoftheworld2. [gallop2] [mosthard]Non-beingcanenterwhere there isnospace in between.♦Thus2Iknowthatnon-action[it]hasbenefits.♦Theteachingofno-talking,♦Thebenefitofnon-action–Fewin theworld2attainthese. [rare,infrequent] [them]NotesCross-referencessoft : #10, #36, #52, #55, #76, #78hard : #36, #76, #78soft conquers hard : #36, #78non-being : #2, #40non-action : #2, #3, #37, #38, #48, #57, #63, #64teaching : #2, #27, #42teaching of no-talking : #2
天下之至柔
馳騁天下之至堅
無有入無間
吾是以知無為之有益•
不言之教
無為之益
天下希及之•
The softest things of the world
Overrun the hardest things of the world.
Non-being can enter where there is no space in between.
Thus I know that non-action has benefits.
The teaching of no-talking,
The benefit of non-action –
Few in the world attain these.
♦Thesoftest2thingsoftheworld2[mostsoft]
Overrunthehardest2thingsoftheworld2. [gallop2] [mosthard]
Non-beingcanenterwhere there isnospace in between.
♦Thus2Iknowthatnon-action[it]hasbenefits.
♦Theteachingofno-talking,
♦Thebenefitofnon-action–
Fewin theworld2attainthese. [rare,infrequent] [them]
Notes
Cross-references
soft : #10, #36, #52, #55, #76, #78
hard : #36, #76, #78
soft conquers hard : #36, #78
non-being : #2, #40
non-action : #2, #3, #37, #38, #48, #57, #63, #64
teaching : #2, #27, #42
teaching of no-talking : #2
Chapter Forty Four
名與身孰親身與貨孰多得與亡孰病甚愛必大費多藏必厚亡知足不辱知止不殆可以長久Fame and self : which do you love?Self and property : which is greater?Gain and loss : which is the affliction?Extreme desire must lead to great expense.Collecting too much must lead to substantial loss.Knowing when you have enough, there can be no disgrace.Knowing when to stop, there can be no danger.Then you can forever endure.♦Fameandself:whichdo youlove?♦Selfandproperty:whichisgreater? [many,much,more]♦Gainandloss:whichis theaffliction? [sickness,illness]♦Extremedesiremustlead togreatexpense. [like,affection]♦Collectingtoo muchmustlead tosubstantialloss.♦Knowingwhen you haveenough, there can benodisgrace.♦Knowingwhen tostop, there can benodanger.♦Then youcan2foreverendure. [for a long time]NotesWith the exception of a couple of “therefore”’s in some sources but not others, this is the only chapter for which virtually every symbol is identical across all sources!Cross-referencesself : #7, #9, #13, #16, #26, #52, #54, #66knowing you have enough : #33, #46knowing when to stop : #32no danger : #16, #25, #32, #52can forever endure : #59
名與身孰親
身與貨孰多
得與亡孰病
甚愛必大費
多藏必厚亡
知足不辱
知止不殆
可以長久
Fame and self : which do you love?
Self and property : which is greater?
Gain and loss : which is the affliction?
Extreme desire must lead to great expense.
Collecting too much must lead to substantial loss.
Knowing when you have enough, there can be no disgrace.
Knowing when to stop, there can be no danger.
Then you can forever endure.
♦Fameandself:whichdo youlove?
♦Selfandproperty:whichisgreater? [many,much,more]
♦Gainandloss:whichis theaffliction? [sickness,illness]
♦Extremedesiremustlead togreatexpense. [like,affection]
♦Collectingtoo muchmustlead tosubstantialloss.
♦Knowingwhen you haveenough, there can beno
disgrace.
♦Knowingwhen tostop, there can benodanger.
♦Then youcan2foreverendure. [for a long time]
Notes
With the exception of a couple of “therefore”’s in some sources but not others, this is the only chapter for which virtually every symbol is identical across all sources!
Cross-references
self : #7, #9, #13, #16, #26, #52, #54, #66
knowing you have enough : #33, #46
knowing when to stop : #32
no danger : #16, #25, #32, #52
can forever endure : #59
Chapter Forty Five
大成若缺其用不弊•大盈若(盅)其用不窮•大直若屈•大巧若拙•大辯若訥•躁勝寒•靜勝熱清靜為天下正•Great achievement seems incomplete,But its usefulness is not impaired.Great fullness is like a cup or bowl,Its usefulness is not exhausted.Great straightness seems bent.Great skillfulness seems clumsy.Great debaters seem slow of speech.Restlessness conquers cold.Stillness conquers heat.Purity and clarity along with stillness makes the worldproper and correct.Greatachievementseemsincomplete, [lacking]Butitsusefulnessisnotimpaired. [harmed]Greatfullnessislikeacup or bowlA,Itsusefulnessisnotexhausted.Greatstraightnessseemsbent.Greatskillfulnessseemsclumsy.BGreatdebatersseemslow of speechC.♦Restlessnessconquerscold. [victorious,beats]♦Stillnessconquersheat. [victorious,beats]Purityand clarityDalong withstillnessDmakestheworld2proper and correct{honest and just}.NotesA : the symbol used here only appears in 1/5 sources, but gives the most understandable translation (and matches the first line in #4)B : this line could just as likely be translated asGreatclevernessseemsstupid.C : this is a euphemism for stammering, but also represents a personal quality that Confucius recommended people cultivateD :presumably referring to inner, mental/emotional qualitiesCross-referencesstillness : #15, #16, #26, #37, #57, #61stillnessandrestlessness : #26
大成若缺
其用不弊•
大盈若(盅)
其用不窮•
大直若屈•
大巧若拙•
大辯若訥•
躁勝寒•
靜勝熱
清靜為天下正•
Great achievement seems incomplete,
But its usefulness is not impaired.
Great fullness is like a cup or bowl,
Its usefulness is not exhausted.
Great straightness seems bent.
Great skillfulness seems clumsy.
Great debaters seem slow of speech.
Restlessness conquers cold.
Stillness conquers heat.
Purity and clarity along with stillness makes the world
proper and correct.
Greatachievementseemsincomplete, [lacking]
Butitsusefulnessisnotimpaired. [harmed]
Greatfullnessislikeacup or bowlA,
Itsusefulnessisnotexhausted.
Greatstraightnessseemsbent.
Greatskillfulnessseemsclumsy.B
Greatdebatersseemslow of speechC.
♦Restlessnessconquerscold. [victorious,beats]
♦Stillnessconquersheat. [victorious,beats]
Purityand clarityDalong withstillnessDmakestheworld2
proper and correct{honest and just}.
Notes
A : the symbol used here only appears in 1/5 sources, but gives the most understandable translation (and matches the first line in #4)
B : this line could just as likely be translated as
Greatclevernessseemsstupid.
C : this is a euphemism for stammering, but also represents a personal quality that Confucius recommended people cultivate
D :presumably referring to inner, mental/emotional qualities
Cross-references
stillness : #15, #16, #26, #37, #57, #61
stillnessandrestlessness : #26
Chapter Forty Six
天下有道卻走馬以糞天下無道戎馬生於郊•(罪莫大於可欲)禍莫大於不知足咎莫大於欲得(•)故知足之足常足矣(•) •When the world possesses Dao,Riding horses are nonetheless used for manure.When the world is without Dao,War-horses are bred in the countryside.There is no fault greater than the capacity for desire.There is no misfortune greater than not knowing whenyou have enough.There is no error greater than desire for gain.Therefore : knowing the sufficiency of having enough,there is always enough!♦When theworld2possessesDao,♦Ridinghorsesarenonethelessusedformanure. [still,yet,however]♦When theworld2iswithoutDao,♦War-horsesarebredinthecountryside.[military] [produced] [open spaces/outskirts]♦There is nofaultgreaterthanthecapacityfordesire.A[ability]♦There is nomisfortunegreaterthannotknowingwhenyou haveenough.♦There is noerrorgreaterthandesireforgain.Therefore:knowingthesufficiencyofhavingenough,there isalwaysenough!BNotesA : this line is in every source except WBB : The core of this sentence is “足of足always足”, where足can mean “enough”, “sufficient”, or possibly “satisfaction” (and by interpretation, “contentment”), so it can be translated in many ways; while I usually use the same English word for each symbol (when appropriate), in this case it seems clearer to use different words with equivalent meanings within the same sentence; this would be similar to changing the phrase “appears to have appeared” to “seems to have appeared”Cross-referencesknowing you have enough : #33, #44
天下有道
卻走馬以糞
天下無道
戎馬生於郊•
(罪莫大於可欲)
禍莫大於不知足
咎莫大於欲得
(•)故知足之足常足矣(•) •
When the world possesses Dao,
Riding horses are nonetheless used for manure.
When the world is without Dao,
War-horses are bred in the countryside.
There is no fault greater than the capacity for desire.
There is no misfortune greater than not knowing when
you have enough.
There is no error greater than desire for gain.
Therefore : knowing the sufficiency of having enough,
there is always enough!
♦When theworld2possessesDao,
♦Ridinghorsesarenonethelessusedformanure. [still,yet,however]
♦When theworld2iswithoutDao,
♦War-horsesarebredinthecountryside.
[military] [produced] [open spaces/outskirts]
♦There is nofaultgreaterthanthecapacityfordesire.A[ability]
♦There is nomisfortunegreaterthannotknowingwhen
you haveenough.
♦There is noerrorgreaterthandesireforgain.
Therefore:knowingthesufficiencyofhavingenough,
there isalwaysenough!B
Notes
A : this line is in every source except WB
B : The core of this sentence is “足of足always足”, where足can mean “enough”, “sufficient”, or possibly “satisfaction” (and by interpretation, “contentment”), so it can be translated in many ways; while I usually use the same English word for each symbol (when appropriate), in this case it seems clearer to use different words with equivalent meanings within the same sentence; this would be similar to changing the phrase “appears to have appeared” to “seems to have appeared”
Cross-references
knowing you have enough : #33, #44
Chapter Forty Seven
不出戶[以]知天下不闚牖[以] (知)天道其出彌遠其知彌少是以聖人不行而知不見而名不為而成You do not have to go out the doorIn order to to know the world.You do not have to look out the windowIn order to to know the Way of heaven.The farther you go out,You know even less.Thus the sage :Does not travel, yet knows.Does not display himself, yet has a reputation.Does not act, yet accomplishes.You donothave togo outthedoorIn order totoknowtheworld2.You donothave tolook outthewindow[peep,spy]In order totoknowtheWayofheaven.♦Thefarther2yougo out, [even moredistance] [he]Youknoweven[more]less. [he]Thus2thesage2:Doesnottravel,yetknows.Doesnotdisplayhimself,yethas areputation. [show]♦Doesnotact,yetaccomplishes.NotesCross-referencesWay of heaven : #9, #73, #77, #79, #81not displaying oneself (showing off) : #22, #24, #72, #77
不出戶
[以]知天下
不闚牖
[以] (知)天道
其出彌遠
其知彌少
是以聖人
不行而知
不見而名
不為而成
You do not have to go out the door
In order to to know the world.
You do not have to look out the window
In order to to know the Way of heaven.
The farther you go out,
You know even less.
Thus the sage :
Does not travel, yet knows.
Does not display himself, yet has a reputation.
Does not act, yet accomplishes.
You donothave togo outthedoor
In order totoknowtheworld2.
You donothave tolook outthewindow[peep,spy]
In order totoknowtheWayofheaven.
♦Thefarther2yougo out, [even moredistance] [he]
Youknoweven[more]less. [he]
Thus2thesage2:
Doesnottravel,yetknows.
Doesnotdisplayhimself,yethas areputation. [show]
♦Doesnotact,yetaccomplishes.
Notes
Cross-references
Way of heaven : #9, #73, #77, #79, #81
not displaying oneself (showing off) : #22, #24, #72, #77
Chapter Forty Eight