The Tao that can be told of Is not the Absolute Tao; The Names that can be given Are not Absolute Names. The Nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth; The Named is the Mother of All Things. Therefore: Oftentimes, one strips oneself of passion In order to see the Secret of Life; Oftentimes, one regards life with passion, In order to see its manifest forms. These two (the Secret and its manifestations) Are (in their nature) the same; They are given different names When they become manifest. They may both be called the Cosmic Mystery: Reaching from the Mystery into the Deeper Mystery Is the Gate to the Secret of All Life.

On the decline of the great Tao, The doctrine of "humanity" and "justice" arose. When knowledge and cleverness appeared, Great hypocrisy followed in its wake. When the six relationships no longer lived at peace, There was (praise of) "kind parents" and "filial sons." When a country fell into chaos and misrule, There was (praise of) "loyal ministers."

True words are not fine-sounding; Fine-sounding words are not true. A good man does not argue; he who argues is not a good man. the wise one does not know many things; He who knows many things is not wise. The Sage does not accumulate (for himself). He lives for other people, And grows richer himself; He gives to other people, And has greater abundance. The Tao of Heaven Blesses, but does not harm. The Way of the Sage Accomplishes, but does not contend.

The softest substance of the world Goes through the hardest. That-which-is-without-form penetrates that-which-has-no-crevice; Through this I know the benefit of taking no action. The teaching without words And the benefit of taking no action Are without compare in the universe.

The student of knowledge (aims at) learning day by day; The student of Tao (aims at) losing day by day. By continual losing One reaches doing nothing (laissez-faire). He who conquers the world often does so by doing nothing. When one is compelled to do something, The world is already beyond his conquering.

The Sage has no decided opinions and feelings, But regards the people's opinions and feelings as his own. The good ones I declare good; The bad ones I also declare good. That is the goodness of Virtue. The honest ones I believe; The liars I also believe; That is the faith of Virtue. The Sage dwells in the world peacefully, harmoniously. The people of the world are brought into a community of heart, And the Sage regards them all as his own children.

All the world says: my teaching (Tao) greatly resembles folly. Because it is great; therefore it resembles folly. If it did not resemble folly, It would have long ago become petty indeed! I have Three Treasures; Guard them and keep them safe: the first is Love. The second is, Never too much. The third is, Never be the first in the world. Through Love, one has no fear; Through not doing too much, one has amplitude (of reserve power); Through not presuming to be the first in the world, One can develop one's talent and let it mature. If one forsakes love and fearlessness, forsakes restraint and reserve power, forsakes following behind and rushes in front, He is doomed! For love is victorious in attack, And invulnerable in defense. Haven arms with love Those it would not see destroyed.

Patching up a great hatred is sure to leave some hatred behind. How can this be regarded as satisfactory? Therefore the Sage holds the left tally, And does not put the guilt on the other party. the virtuous man is for patching up; The vicious is for fixing guilt. But "the way of Heaven is impartial; It sides only with the good man."

Of all things, soldiers are instruments of evil, Hated by men. Therefore the religious man (possessed of Tao) avoids them. The gentleman favors the left in civilian life, But on military occasions favors the right. Soldiers are weapons of evil. They are not the weapons of the gentleman. When the use of soldiers cannot be helped, The best policy is calm restraint. Even in victory, there is no beauty, And who calls it beautiful Is one who delights in slaughter. He who delights in slaughter Will not succeed in his ambition to rule the world. [The things of good omen favor the left. The things of ill omen favor the right. The lieutenant-general stands on the left, The general stands on the right. That is to say, it is celebrated as a Funeral Rite.] The slaying of multitudes should be mourned with sorrow. A victory should be celebrated with the Funeral Rite.