Lindauer version
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1.1 A tao that one can tao Is not the entire tao A name that one can name Is not the entire name.
1.2 In the absence of names Lies the origin of heavens and earth The presence of names Is mother to the 10000 things.
1.3 So viewing entireness without desire One may see subtleties Viewing entireness with desire One may see boundaries.
1.4 That which is these both Goes about as itself yet there are different names.
1.5 Categorizing them together there is insight Very deep insight The gateway to collective subtleties.

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2.1 In the world each knows how beauty acts Where there is beauty ugliness begins
2.2 Each knows how to value Where there is value lack of value begins.
2.3 In this manner Presence and absence give birth to each other Difficult and easy complete each other Long and short contrast each other
2.4 High and low attract each other Tone and voice harmonize each other Front and back follow each other.
2.5 Appropriately it happens that sages Dwell absent of acting with effort Do things without explaining in words
2.6 Make the 10000 things blend yet without trying to describe them Give birth yet without possessing
2.7 Act yet without relying on results Are of outstanding service yet aren't willing to reside therein.In the end, only be unwilling to reside therein Appropriately, a lack of detachment happens.

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3.1 Being without esteem for principles Results in people who do not contend
3.2 Being without treasuring goods difficult to obtain Results in people who do not act as thieves
3.3 Being without seeing what one can desire Results in the minds of people not being confused.
3.4 Appropriately the governing of sages happens. Baring the mind Solidifying the center Lessening the will Strengthening self-nature
3.5 These entirely result in people Who are absent of knowing and absent of desire
3.6 In the end they also result in the wise not venturing to act. Acting absent of acting An absence of being without governing follows.

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4.1 Tao, like an empty bowl Being used somehow lacks fullness.
4.2 Such breadth! It seems to be a model for the 10000 things.
4.3 Blunting what is sharp Untying what is tangled Harmonizing what is bright Being together with the dusty earth.
4.4 Such depth! It seems to somehow exist.
4.5 I have no knowledge whose child it is It appears to precede the emperors.

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5.1 Heavens and earth are without humanizing It happens that the 10000 things act as straw dogs
5.2 Sages are without humanizing It happens that one hundred families act as straw dogs.
5.3 The space bounding heavens and earth is just like the equal of a bellows Empty yet not subdued Stirring yet more goes out.
5.4 Much talk counts for little It can't compare to obeying the center.

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6.1 The valley spirit has no death It is appropriately called the all-embracing female
6.2 The gateway of The all-embracing female Is appropriately called the root of heavens and earth.
6.3 Continuous, soft, it looks like it exists - It is infrequently used.

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7.1 Heavens, growth, earth, longevity.
7.2 In heavens and earth's place That which is able to grow and further be long-lasting happens And something lacking existence of a self happens So it is able to grow and give birth.
7.3 Appropriately it happens that sages Put their bodies behind yet their bodies are ahead
7.4 Put their bodies outside yet their bodies are kept in.
7.5 Does it not happen they are absent of anomalous self-interest? So they are able to perfect self-interest.

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8.1 Better value looks like water The value if water profits the 10000 things yet without contending It dwells in places the collective mind dislikes - So it is severed, relating to tao.
8.2 The value of a home is in location The value of a mind is in breadth The value of a relationship is in humanity The value of a word is in belief
8.3 The value of a government is in governing The value of an effort is in ability The value of a movement is in time.
8.4 In the end only be without contending So be absent from reproach.

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9.1 Holding yet being full Lacks compare to not yet being so
9.2 A sword blade being oversharpened Cannot long remain so
9.3 A living room full of gold and jade There is no one able to guard it
9.4 Abundant treasures yet arrogance Self-condemnation, self-punishment.
9.5 Outstanding service performed The body withdrawing The tao of the heavens.

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10.1 In containing life-force and embracing oneness Is the ability to be absent from departing equal?
10.2 In gently extending animus alone Is the ability to be as a newborn child equal?
10.3 In cleansing and clearing insightful discernment Is the ability to be absent of flaws equal?
10.4 In fondness for people, governing a nation Is the ability to be absent of action equal?
10.5 In opening and closing the gate of heavens Is the ability to be absent of femaleness equal?
10.6 In seeing clearly all four reaches Is the ability to be absent from knowledge equal?
10.7 Be giving birth, be nourishing.Giving birth yet without possessing Acting yet without sustaining Growing yet without directing Is appropriately called insightful ideal.

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11.1 Thirty spokes converge at one hub The use of a chariot is in the presence of what is absent
11.2 Shaping clay, it happens to act as a vessel The use of a vessel is in the presence of what is absent
11.3 Cutting doors and windows to have it act as a room The use of a room is in the presence of what is absent.
11.4 So Where there is presence beneficial actions happen Where there is absence useful actions happen.

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12.1 Five colors blind the eye of man Five tones deafen the ear of man Five flavors chafe the mouth of man
12.2 Racing and hunting inspire the mind of man to express craziness Goods difficult to obtain hamper the path of man.
12.3 Appropriately it happens That sages act from the center without acting from the eyes. So detach from that, grab this.

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13.1 Favor and disgrace look alarming. The treasure of great danger looks like the body.
13.2 Why say favor and disgrace look alarming? Favor acts superior Disgrace acts inferior Being obtained it looks alarming Being lost it looks alarming Appropriately say favor and disgrace look alarming.
13.3 Why say the treasure of great danger looks like the body? I place the occurrence of things of great danger As action of I in the presence of a body. I reach the absence of a body I am present with what danger? Appropriately say the treasure of great danger looks like the body.
13.4 So treasuring it when the body acts in the world It looks like one can be committed to the world. Being fond of it when the body acts in the world It looks like one can be entrusted to the world.

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14.1 Being observed, lacking sight Say the name smooth Being listened to, lacking hearing Say the name rare Being pounced on, lacking obtainment Say the name small.
14.2 That which these three describes cannot be resolved So they mingle yet act as one.
14.3 What is high lacks brightness What is low lacks darkness Restrictions and restraints cannot be named Return, merge with, relate to the absence of things.
14.4 It is an appropriate action to call it The absence of being shape's shape The absence of being thing's form. It is appropriately called ungraspable, elusive Moving toward it there is no seeing a head Following it there is no seeing a tail.
14.5 Holding the tao of the ancients Warding off presence of the now happens The ability to know the ancient beginnings Is appropriately called a bond to tao.

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15.1 Those ancients who valued action in the tao Were insightful, versatile, far-reaching, coherent.
15.2 Penetrating, one cannot understand In the end it is only that one cannot understand So there is more than appears to their actions. So resigned, like fording a river in winter Just so, like respecting all four neighbors So reserved, like making an appearance
15.3 So melting, like ice halfway released So genuine, like their true nature So spacious, like a valley So well mixed, like muddy water.
15.4 Who is able to gently calm muddy water, clearing it? Who is able to endure gently stirring tranquillity so it gives birth?
15.5 Those who maintain this tao have no desire for fullness In the end only lack fullness So be able to be shabby yet perfect the new.

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16.1 Taking emptiness to the limit Observing stillness genuinely
16.2 Regarding the 10000 things as side-by-side It happens that I view the return. In the end things grow and flourish Each returns, merging with its root.
16.3 Merging with the root, say still Appropriately it is called returning to giving birth. Returning to giving birth, say entireness
16.4 Knowing entireness say illuminated Without knowing entireness presumptuously do the faminous. Knowing entireness is tolerance Tolerance leads to impartiality Impartiality leads to kingliness Kingliness leads to the heavens The heavens lead to tao
16.5 Tao leads to what is long-lasting. Be without a body, lack danger.

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17.1 The very highest, little knowledge is present of it That next is attached to yet praised That next is respected That next is despised.
17.2 Where there is belief without enough within A lack of believing what is within is present.
17.3 So remote, those treasure words Outstanding service performed, efforts successful the one hundred families say We did it naturally.

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18.1 Great tao discarded, a presence of humanity, morality
18.2 Wisdom and intelligence come out, a presence of great pretense
18.3 Families lack harmony, a presence of filial devotion and mothering
18.4 The nation's emperor blinded, confused, a presence of loyal servants.

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19.1 Break away from sageliness, toss out wisdom People benefit one hundred times over
19.2 Break away from humanity, toss out morality People return to filial devotion and mothering
19.3 Break away from valuing, toss out profit Thieves and robbers are not in existence.
19.4 These three used as a basis for action are ornament, insufficient. So make present what principles?
19.5 See plainness Embrace true nature Reduce self-interest Limit desires.

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20.1 Break off from studying, there is an absence of grief. Being individual or pandering to each other How do these differ? Valuing or hating each other What is the difference?
20.2 It looks like one cannot lack respect for what others put respect in Such reckless desertion! It is not yet centered, this way.
20.3 Collective mind is bright and sunny, gay and prosperous Like enjoying a sacrificial ox Like ascending a tower in springtime. The self alone, so moored! is not yet divined on the tortoise-shell Like being a baby-child before it smiles.Unattached, so unattached The self looks absent of a place to merge.
20.4 In the collective mind each is present of a surplus Yet the self alone appears to offer as a gift. The self is foolish, men's minds are also this way Unclear, so unclear.
20.5 Customs of men are clear, obvious The self alone is dark, indistinct Customs of men are curious, scrutinizing The self alone is tightly closed, shut off. So indifferent, it looks like the ocean Such a gusty wind, it looks ceaseless.
20.6 In the collective mind each possesses a cause Yet the self alone seems stubborn and rustic The self alone differs from relating to men Yet treasures nourishment in relating to the mother.

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21.1 An aperture is the appearance of the ideal Only tao is appropriately followed.
21.2 The action of tao on things, Only elusive, only ungraspable. So ungraspable, so elusive At its center, the presence of form So elusive, so ungraspable At its center, the presence of things So secluded, so hard to see At its center, the presence of belief.
21.3 From ancient times reaching into the present its name does not depart Experience of the collective beginning happens.
21.4 Why do I happen to know the shape of the collective beginning is this way? It just happens.

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22.1 Flexibility, then comes wholeness Being twisted, then comes straightness Emptiness, then comes fullness Shabbiness, then comes newness Scarcity, then comes obtainment Abundance, then comes perplexity.
22.2 Appropriately it happens that sages Embrace oneness Act as the model of the world
22.3 Are not showing themselves so they are luminous Are not justifying themselves so they are conspicuous Are not boasting of themselves so outstanding service is performed Are not bragging of themselves so they grow
22.4 In the end only lack contending So noone in the world is able to be contending with them.
22.5 In ancient times there was a saying, That which is flexible becomes whole. How can these be empty words? The essence, whole yet being merged together.

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23.1 Rare words are natural. So the fluttering winds do not last all morning The sudden rainstorm does not last all day.
23.2 Who is it that acts this way? Heavens and earth. Heavens and earth still lack the ability for longevity Yet what relates to men is equal to this state of things?
23.3 So follow effort in things related to tao Be together with relating to tao Follow effort in things related to the ideal Be together with relating to the ideal Follow effort in things related to losing Be together with relating to losing.
23.4 What is together with things related to tao Tao also obtains joyfully What is together with things related to the ideal The ideal also obtains joyfully What is together with things related to losing Losing also obtains joyfully.
23.5 Belief without enough within A lack of belief in what is within happens.

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24.1 Those on tiptoe are not standing firmly Those who stride are not moving
24.2 Those who show themselves are not luminous Those who justify themselves are not conspicuous
24.3 Those who boast of themselves are not of outstanding service Those who brag of themselves are not growing.
24.4 They that join tao also say Surplus food and redundant actions are somehow disliked So those present with tao are not dwelling there.

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25.1 A presence of a thing mixed completely Before the birth of heavens and earth So lonely, so deserted Standing alone yet without deviating Working everywhere yet lacking danger Action of the mother of the world can happen.
25.2 I have no knowledge of its name Giving a word, I say tao. Stubbornly trying to name it I say great
25.3 Great, I say passing by Passing by, I say far-reaching Far-reaching, I say returning.
25.4 So tao is great, heavens are great, earth is great Kings are also great. In the center of the universe are four greatnesses Yet kings stand still, blending them into one.
25.5 Man is an offshoot of earth Earth is an offshoot of the heavens The heavens are an offshoot of tao Tao is an offshoot of the natural.

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26.1 Heaviness acts as root of lightness Stillness acts as sovereign of agitation.
26.2 Appropriately it happens That sages travel throughout the day Without departing from heavy or light Even though fabulous views are present They dwell in great comfort and go about like this.
26.3 How would one be lord of 10000 war-chariots Yet have a body which is light in the world?
26.4 Following lightness comes loss of the root Following agitation comes loss of the sovereign.

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27.1 Valuing going is absent of trace Valuing words are absent of flaw or censure With valuing reckoning, counters or policies are not used.
27.2 What is valuably shut Is absent of a barrier yet cannot be opened What is valuably tied Is absent of restraint or restriction yet cannot be untied.
27.3 Appropriately it happens that sages Entirely valuing help others, so others are not thrown away Entirely valuing help things, so things are not thrown away. Appropriately called following the luminance.
27.4 So those who value others teach those who lack valuing others Those who lack valuing others are a resource of those who value others.
27.5 Without treasuring a teacher, or without loving a resource Even the wise have great misconception. Appropriately called an important subtlety.

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28.1 Know what is male Keep to what is female Act as the ravine of the world. Acting as the ravine of the world The ideal entirely lacks separation Return, merge with, relate to a newborn child.
28.2 Know what is white Keep to what is black Act as the model of the world. Acting as the model of the world The ideal entirely lacks error Return, merge with, relate to an absence of reaching limits.
28.3 Know what is honorable Keep to what is humiliating Act as the valley of the world. Acting as the valley of the world The ideal entirely becomes sufficient Return, merge with, relate to true nature.
28.4 True nature broken and scattered Next comes action as tools Being used by sages Next comes action as mediums for growth. In this way great tailors are not cutting.

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29.1 It is attained, the desire to grab the world yet be acting on it I see it has not been satisfied yet
29.2 The world, a spirited tool, cannot act either.Those who act are spoiling Those who take hold of are losing.
29.3 So of things Some lead and some follow Some gust and some puff lightly Some are strong and some thin Some support and some destroy.
29.4 Appropriately it happens that sages are Apart from extremes Apart from extravagance Apart from excess.

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30.1 When it happens that tao assists men and lords The force of the soldier is not in the world. What takes effort is likely to return.
30.2 Briars and thorns grow within the dwelling place of the army Behind a great military comes the seed for a faminous year.
30.3 Those who value Achieve results yet stop Are without venturing to strive to hold
30.4 Achieve results yet do not brag Achieve results yet do not boast Achieve results yet do not be arrogant Achieve results yet without being done Achieve results yet do not strive.
30.5 Things reach the prime and then are old? Appropriately called not in accordance with tao What is not in accordance with tao comes to an early end.

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31.1 In the end those with fine strategies lack the tools of fortune They have things which are somehow disliked So those who are present with tao are not dwelling in them.
31.2 The master-child resides in and comes to treasure the left Using strategy, come to treasure the right
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31.4 Those with strategy lack the tools of fortune They have not the tools of the master-child When using them in the absence of a foreseeable need Uncaring, indifferent actions are better.
31.5 Conquer yet without embellishing Yet those who are embellishing justify joy in slaughtering men In the end those who are joyful in slaughtering men Cannot come to achieve their aspired relation with the world.
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32.1 The tao entirely lacks a name Although its true nature is tiny Noone in the world is able to methodize it either.
32.2 If nobles and kings are able to keep to it The 10000 things attain self-spontaneity
32.3 The heavens and earth join with each other and it rains sweet dew It is the command of noone but people cooperate.
32.4 Once measuring begins names are present Names are also grasped and possessed In the end the knowledge of stopping also follows With knowledge of stopping lack of danger can happen.
32.5 Analogically, tao being in the world Is just like how the streams and valleys relate to rivers and seas.

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33.1 Those who know men are wise Those with self-knowledge are luminous
33.2 Those who conquer others possess strength Those who conquer themselves possess force
33.3 Those with knowledge of enough are wealthy Those who strive to go possess aspiration
33.4 Those who are not losing their place are long-lasting Those who die yet without perishing are long-lived.

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34.1 Great tao flowing everywhere It can be left or right
34.2 All things depend on it yet exist yet without being denied. Outstanding service is performed without the presence of names It clothes and cultivates the 10000 things Yet without acting as lord.
34.3 With entireness absent of desire One can name in relation to smallness
34.4 The 10000 things merge and blend Yet without action as lord one can name great actions.
34.5 What is entirely without a self to act great happens So it is able to perfect what is great.

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35.1 Take hold of the great form The world comes toward Comes toward without harm Peace and stability in the extreme.
35.2 Music and handing out dainties Passing guests stop
35.3 Things belonging with tao expressed Its blandness is equal to its lack of flavor. Observing lacks enough sight Listening lacks enough hearing Using lacks enough grasp.

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36.1 Attain the desire for inhaling Firmly seed exhaling Attain the desire of lessening Firmly seed strengthening Attain the desire of discarding Firmly seed allowing back Attain the desire of taking by force Firmly seed giving away
36.2 Appropriately called subtle luminance. Yielding conquers the firm Lessening conquers the strong.
36.3 Fish cannot escape relating to deep water A direction for man cannot happen with tools benefitting a nation.

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37.1 Tao, entirely absent of acting Yet is absent of being without acting.
37.2 If nobles and kings are able to keep to it The 10000 things attain self-transformation Transforming yet desiring to do. When I am able to calm the restless An absence of naming true nature happens. With an absence of naming true nature In the end an absence of desire is also obtained
37.3 Without desire tranquillity happens The world attains self-settlement

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38.1 Higher ideal lacks ideal Appropriately presence of the ideal happens Lower ideal lacks a loss of ideal Appropriately absence of the ideal happens.
38.2 Higher ideal is absent of acting yet absent of causing acting Lower ideal is acting yet present with causing acting.
38.3 Higher humanity is acting yet absent of causing acting Higher morality is acting yet present with causing acting Higher propriety is acting yet the response of noone appears Next comes grabbing the arm yet throwing it aside.
38.4 So lose tao yet back ideal Lose ideal yet back humanity Lose humanity yet back morality Lose morality yet back propriety. In the end those with propriety Have loyal belief without warmth yet the leader of being confused
38.5 Those with knowledge of what comes next The flower of Tao yet the origin of being fooled.
38.6 Appropriately it happens that the great husband Dwells in what is spread thickly, not residing in what lacks warmth Dwells in the fruit, not residing in the flower. So detach from that, grab this.

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39.1 From old those which are with one: Heavens with one, settling happens Earth with one, a direction happens Spirit with one, animation happens
39.2 Valley with one, fullness happens The 10000 things with one, giving birth happens Nobles and kings with one, pure action in the world happens. These are the results:
39.3 Heavens absent of settling will, I am afraid, crack Earth absent of direction will, I am afraid, shake Spirit absent of animation will, I am afraid, fall asleep
39.4 Valley absent of fullness will, I am afraid, be used up The 10000 things absent of giving birth will, I am afraid, die off Nobles and kings absent of pure action will, I am afraid, be set back.
39.5 So it happens that the common acts as a root to the treasured The lower acts as a base to the higher.
39.6 Appropriately it happens That kings and nobles call themselves orphaned, widowed, unfavored. Does it not happen that the common acts as root to the anomalous?
39.7 Are not these the same? So incur praise absent of praising
39.8 Be without desiring to tinkle, tinkle, as if jade Clatter, clatter, as if stone.

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40.1 That which returns is tao moving That which lessens is tao using.
40.2 The world, the 10000 things give birth in relation to presence Presence gives birth in relation to absence.

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41.1 Better knights hear of tao Dutifully, yet they are practicing it Average knights hear of tao They look aware, they look unaware
41.2 Lesser knights hear of tao They have great laughing. Without laughing, there's not enough of the action of tao happening.
41.3 So long-established words are present. Luminous tao looks dark Advancing tao looks like it is falling back Level tao looks uneven Better ideal looks like a valley Great whiteness looks spotted
41.4 Extensive ideal looks like it lacks enough Established ideal looks unsteady Durable ideal looks changeable Great squares are absent of corners Great tools are slowly perfected Great music sounds faint Great form lacks shape.
41.5 Tao is hidden, absent from name In the end, Only tao values lending at interest and moreover perfects.

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42.1 Tao gives birth to one One gives birth to two Two gives birth to three Three gives birth to the 10000 things.
42.2 All things carry yin and embrace yang With their blended animus, action in harmony happens.
42.3 In the time of men they dislike orphaned, widowed, unfavored Yet kings and lords regard such as praiseworthy.
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42.5 Men have told others I also am telling Those who are striving and fierce die incomplete. I use this as the father of my teaching.

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43.1 The most yielding reach of he world Gallops around the most rigid reach of the world Absence of presence enters absence of space. Appropriately I come to know There is presence of advantage in the absence of acting.
43.2 Telling without words Advantage in the absence of acting The world rarely reaches this.

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44.1 Name or body, which is more prized? Body or wealth, which is more abundant? Obtaining or losing, which is the greater fault?
44.2 So appropriately Being very fond seeds great cost What is abundantly stashed seeds heavy loss.
44.3 Know enough, lack disgrace Know to stop, lack danger Growth and the long-lasting can happen.

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45.1 Great perfection looks incomplete Used it lacks impairment Great fullness looks like it needs more Used it lacks exhaustion. Great straightness looks bent
45.2 Great skill looks awkward Great eloquence looks like it stutters.
45.3 Restlessness conquers the cold Stillness conquers the heated Clarity and stillness act on the world, ordering it.

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46.1 When the world is present with tao It happens that even galloping horses fertilize When the world is absent of tao War-horses exist in the suburbs.
46.2 No calamity is greater than relating to not knowing enough No fault is greater than relating to the desire to obtain.
46.3 So know the enough of being enough There is entirely enough to go with each.

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47.1 Without going out through doors know the world Without seeing out through windows see the tao of the heavens Who travels extremely far knows extremely little.
47.2 Appropriately it happens that sages Are without going out yet know Are without seeing out yet name Are without acting yet perfect.

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48.1 Act academic, daily gain Act tao, daily lose. Losing, again lose
48.2 It happens, reaching relating to the absence of acting Absence of acting yet absence of being without acting.
48.3 Grabbing the world, an entire absence of effort happens Liking entirely the presence of effort Is insufficient to precede grabbing the world.

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49.1 Sages are entirely absent of mind It happens that the mind of the one hundred families acts as a mind.
49.2 Those who are valued I am valuing Those who lack value I also am valuing Ideal valuing.
49.3 Those who are believed I am believing Those who are not believed I also am believing Ideal believing.
49.4 Sages in the world inhale Inhale, act, mix with the mind of the world. The one hundred families concentrate their ears and eyes Sages are each being children.

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50.1 Life going out, death entering
50.2 There is living following 13 There is dying following 13.The life of man strives toward the realm of death, also 13. Why is it so in the end? It happens, it is life lived thickly.
50.3 As a fact it is well known that those skilled in preserving life Travel the land without running into rhinos and tigers The militia enters and the strategy is to lack armor.
50.4 The rhino is absent of a place to thrust its horn The tiger is absent of a place to affix its claw The army is absent of a place to admit its blade. Why is it so in the end? It happens, they are absent of the realm of death.

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51.1 Tao is giving birth Ideal is raising Things are embodying The environment is perfecting. Appropriately it happens that of the 10000 things None lack venerating tao yet treasuring ideal.
51.2 The venerability of tao, the treasurability of the ideal In the end it is the command of noone yet it is entirely natural. So tao is giving birth Ideal is raising Growing, rearing, balancing, maturing, deepening, enveloping.
51.3 Giving birth yet without possessing Acting yet without relying Growing yet without directing Appropriately called insightful ideal.

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52.1 The world is present of an origin It happens that this acts as the mother of the world. Grasp and hold what is the mother Knowledge of what is the child happens
52.2 Grasp knowledge of what is the child Return, keep to what is the mother Till the end the body lacks danger.
52.3 Cork its bottle Obstruct its door Eventually the body lacks straining.
52.4 Open its bottle Complete its effort Eventually the body lacks hope.
52.5 Seeing the small say luminous Keeping to yielding say strong
52.6 Using what is bright Return, merge with what is luminous. An absence of offering bodily misfortune as a gift Is appropriately called learning entirely.

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53.1 Supposing myself to have as little knowledge as I do I am doing things relating to great tao It alone imposes appropriate respect.
53.2 Great tao is very even yet people are fond of byways
53.3 Courts are very divided Fields are very weedy Granaries are very empty
53.4 Clothes are ornamented and patterned Sharp swords are worn Food and drink satiate Money and goods are present in surplus. Appropriately called robbery, extravagance This way is also not tao.

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54.1 That which is valuably established is not weeded out That which is valuably embraced is not shed off. It happens, children and grandchildren Sacrifice to ancestors without reflection.
54.2 Tending to relating to the body Its ideal will be real Tending to relating to the family Its ideal will be bubbling over Tending to relating to the community Its ideal will be growing Tending to relating to the nation Its ideal will be abundant Tending to relating to the world Its ideal will be everywhere.
54.3 So body happens seeing body Family happens seeing family Community happens seeing community Nation happens seeing nation World happens seeing world.
54.4 Why does it happen that I know the nature of the world? This just happens.

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55.1 Holding the richness of the ideal in the mouth Compares to relating to a newborn child. Poisonous bugs are without stinging Fierce animals are without grasping Birds of prey are without pouncing. There are weak bones and yielding tendons, yet a firm grasp
55.2 The male does not yet know union with the female Yet its virility is strong It has essence even at the extreme.
55.3 Screaming all day yet without being hoarse Harmonizing even at the extreme.Knowing harmony say entireness Knowing entireness say luminous In accord with giving birth say happy The mind results in animus, say strong.
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55.5 Things reach the prime and then grow old? What is called this is without tao. What is without tao comes to an early end.

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56.1 Those who know are without words Those with words are without knowing.
56.2 Corking its bottle Obstructing its door Blunting its sharpness Untying its tangles Harmonizing its brightness Being together with the dusty earth Appropriately called insightful togetherness.
56.3 So one cannot obtain it yet be attached One cannot obtain it yet be detached One cannot obtain it yet benefit One cannot obtain it yet be harmed One cannot obtain it yet treasure One cannot obtain it yet consider as common. So it acts as the treasure of the world.

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57.1 When governing the nation happens correctly Surprising use of strategy happens. Absent of effort grabbing the world happens. Why do I know this is so? This just happens.
57.2 The world has an abundance of prohibitions and taboos Yet people become increasingly inadequate People have an abundance of beneficial tools Confusion multiplies in the families of the nation
57.3 Men have an abundance of skills and cleverness Surprising things arise and multiply Laws and decrees multiply conspicuously Robbers and thieves are present in abundance.
57.4 So sages say I am absent of action yet people transform themselves I am fond of stillness yet people correct themselves
57.5 I am absent of effort yet people are of themselves wealthy I am absent from desire yet people of themselves exhibit true nature.

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58.1 They who administrate are covered, muffled Their people are pure, honest They who administrate are exacting, scrutinizing Their people are incomplete, deficient.
58.2 Such misfortune! The place of happiness place is to lean upon it Such happiness!
58.3 The place of misfortune is to be suppressed. Who knows its limit? It is absent from the correct.The correct returns, acting surprising The valued returns, acting as evil spirits. The dirt in the eye of men, It is solid, everyday, long-lasting.
58.4 Appropriately it happens that sages are Square yet without cutting Pointed yet without piercing Straight yet not unbridled Bright yet not dazzling.

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59.1 In governing people Noone compares efforts of the heavens to restraint.
59.2 In the end only restraint is appropriately called quickly resolving What is called quickly resolving has heavy accumulation of ideal. Following heavy accumulation of ideal Comes absence of lacking conquering Following absence of lacking conquering Noone knows limits
59.3 When noone knows limits Presence of a nation can happen. In the presence of the mother of a nation Growth and longevity may happen.
59.4 Appropriately called Deep roots, firm stalks, growth, life, longevity, looking at tao.

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60.1 Governing a great nation looks like cooking tiny fish.
60.2 When it happens that tao is present in the world What is clever lacks spirit
60.3 What is not clever lacks spirit What has spirit is not wounding man What has no spirit is not wounding man. Sages also are not wounding man.
60.4 In the end both are without wounding each other So ideal is reached, merges, comes within.

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61.1 Those which are great nations flow and spread lower The intersection of the world The female of the world. The female entirely conquers the male through stillness
61.2 It happens that stillness acts lower. So when a great nation is lower than a tiny nation It next grabs the tiny nation When a tiny nation is lower than a great nation It next grabs the great nation.
61.3 So some are lower and it happens they grab Some are lower and yet they grab.
61.4 Without fail a great nation desires to bring together and rear others Without fail a tiny nation desires to enter into the efforts of others.
61.5 In the end for both of these to acquire their desired position Those which are great appropriately act low.

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62.1 That which is tao is treasurehouse for the 10000 things Treasure of the valuing man Place of refuge for the man who is not valuing.
62.2 Embellished words can cause respect to be marketed Doing valued things can cause lavish praise to enter Men who are not valuing, why be rejecting their presence?
62.3 So establish the emperor Install three ministers Even though it happens That the gift of the large jade disk is preceded by a team of horses It can not compare to sitting, emulating this tao.
62.4 Why did it happen that in ancient times There were those who treasured this tao? Did they go without saying Seek and finding happens Possess faults and escape from the anomalous happens? So it acts as the treasure of the world

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63.1 Acting absent of acting Effort absent of effort Tasting absent of tasting
63.2 Great, small, abundant, few Repay hatred, ideal happens.
63.3 Planning the difficult relates to what is easy Acting great relates to what is small
63.4 The difficult efforts of the world seed doing related to what is easy The great efforts of the world seed doing related to what is small.
63.5 Appropriately it happens That sages eventually lack great action So they are able to perfect what is great.
63.6 In the end light promises seed scanty belief Abundant easiness seeds abundant difficulty.
63.7 Appropriately it happens That sages see all things as being equally difficult So eventually an absence of difficulty is with them.

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64.1 What is peaceful is easily maintained What is not begun is easily planned What is fragile is easily shattered What is tiny is easily scattered.
64.2 Acting relates to the not yet present Governing relates to the not yet confused.
64.3 A tree as big as the embrace of a man is born relating to very tiny shoots A nine story tower is raised relating to a pile of earth A journey of a thousand li begins in relating to where you stand.
64.4 Those who act are spoiling Those who take hold of are losing Appropriately it happens that sages are absent of action So there is an absence of spoiling Are absent of taking hold of So there is an absence of losing.
64.5 The following of people of effort in the entire Relates to perfecting part yet spoiling Following care throughout as if just beginning
64.6 Comes an absence of spoiling effort.Appropriately it happens that sages Desire without desiring Are without treasuring goods difficult to obtain Learn without learning Return to the place where the collective mind passes And come to support the self-nature of the 10000 things Yet without venturing to act.

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65.1 Those ancients who valued acting in tao Did not come to be luminous People attaining it came to be foolish.
65.2 The difficulty with governing people? It happens that what is wise is abundant. So if it happens that wisdom governs the nation It is the enemy of the nation If it does not happen that wisdom governs the nation It is the good luck of the nation
65.3 Those who know both these things Also investigate the patterns of entireness To know and investigate patterns is appropriately called insightful ideal.
65.4 Insightful ideal goes with the penetrating, with the far-reaching With it things go with turning back And will reach the great alignment.

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66.1 In the place of rivers and seas The ability to act as that which is the king of one hundred valleys happens It happens they value being low So the ability to act as the king of one hundred valleys happens.
66.2 Appropriately it happens that Desire to be above people seeds the occurrence of words being low Desire to precede people seeds the occurrence of the body following
66.3 Appropriately it happens that sages Dwell above yet people lack heaviness Dwell in front yet people are without being held back Appropriately it happens That the world joyfully supports them yet without tiring.
66.4 It happens they lack contention So in the world noone is able to be contending with them.

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67.1 In the world each says My tao is great and seems to lack resemblance In the end only great therefore seems to lack resemblance. It looks like resemblance goes with the long-lasting With what is tiny as well.
67.2 In the end I possess three principles I am obtaining yet defending One, say compassion Two, say thrift Three say lack of venturing to act to precede the world.
67.3 Compassion, so be able to be brave Thrift, so be able to expand Lack venturing to act to precede the world So be able to perfect tools of growth.
67.4 Right now, abandon compassion just to be brave Abandon thrift just to expand Abandon being behind just to precede Death goes with these.
67.5 In the end with compassion A war happens and next comes conquering Keeping to it happens and next comes solidity. The heavens attain helping It happens that compassion is defending.

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68.1 Those who value acting as sergeants lack ferocity Those who value war lack anger
68.2 Those who value conquering lack engagement Those who value using men are acting low.
68.3 Appropriately called ideal of lacking being contending Appropriately called strength to be using men Appropriately called distributing the ancient limit of the heavens.

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69.1 Strategists possess words I am without venturing to act as lord yet act as guest Without venturing to enter an inch yet fall back a foot.
69.2 Appropriately called Going absent of going Grabbing absent of an arm Throwing absent of opposition Taking hold of absent of an enemy.
69.3 No misfortune is greater than relating to light opposition Light opposition severs and destroys my principles.
69.4 So when opposing strategies escalate each other Conquering goes with those who mourn.

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70.1 My words Are very easy to know Are very easy to practice. In the world Noone is able to know Noone is able to practice.
70.2 Words possess an ancestor Efforts possess a sovereign. In the end only with absence of knowledge Appropriate lack of self-knowledge happens Knowledge of that which is the self is rare And then that which is the self is treasured.
70.3 Appropriately it happens that sages have A covering of coarse cloth A bosom of jade.

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71.1 Knowing, lack of knowing Better, lack of knowing Knowing, a disease.In the end only when the disease is sick Appropriate lack of the disease happens.
71.2 Sages lack the disease It happens the disease was sick. Appropriately lack of the disease happens.

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72.1 People lack respect for impressive strength And then greatly impressive strength is reached.
72.2 An absence of improper familiarity for what is their place of residence An absence of detesting what is their place of living In the end only without detesting Appropriate lack of detesting happens
72.3 Appropriately it happens that sages Know themselves without displaying themselves Are fond of themselves without treasuring themselves. So detach from that, grab this.

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73.1 Bravery in relation to venturing, next comes being killed Bravery in relation to lack of venturing, next comes being mobile
73.2 Each of these two benefits some, harms some.The place of the heaves dislikes Who knows why it is so? Appropriately it happens that sages see it just as difficult.
73.3 The tao of the heavens Without contending yet values conquering Without words yet values responding Without summoning yet attracts to itself Is easy-natured yet values a place for everything.
73.4 The net of the heavens is vast, expansive A coarse mesh yet without loss.

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74.1 When people lack respect for death How does it happen that death looks threatening?
74.2 Suppose people entirely respect death Yet there are those who act strange. I may obtain hold of them yet who would venture to be killing them?
74.3 Entireness possesses that which is the master killer, killing.In the end taking the place Of that which is the master killer, killing Is appropriately called Taking the place of the great carpenter, carving. In the end take the place of the great carpenter, carving It is rarely true that a lack of wounding the hand goes with this.

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75.1 The hunger of people It happens that those above feed by taxing abundantly Appropriately hunger happens.
75.2 The difficulty in governing people It happens that those above possess action Appropriately the difficulty in governing happens.
75.3 The lightness of people at death It happens that those above reach for the thickness of life Appropriately lightness at death happens. In the end only those who are absent of acting to live Are appropriately wise in relating to treasuring life.

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76.1 The life of man is also yielding, weak His death is also rigid, unyielding.
76.2 The 10000 things, the grass and trees Their living is also yielding, fragile Their dying is also dried up, withered.
76.3 So that which is rigid, unyielding is the pupil of dying That which is yielding, weak is the pupil of living
76.4 Appropriately it happens that With unyielding soldiers, next comes lack of conquering With an unyielding tree, next comes being attacked.
76.5 Dwelling in the unyielding and great is worse Dwelling in the yielding and supple is better.

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77.1 The tao of the heavens, it is just like opening up a bow With that which towers being restrained That which is lowered being lifted That which has surplus being decreased That which lacks enough being supplemented.
77.2 The tao of the heavens Decreasing in the presence of surplus Yet supplementing what lacks enough. The tao of man, and then it lacks being so Reducing what lacks enough Coming to esteem the presence of surplus.
77.3 Who is able to come to esteem presence of surplus in the world? Only those present with tao.
77.4 Appropriately it happens that sages Act yet without relying Are of outstanding service yet without dwelling therein They lack desire to display principles.

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78.1 In the world nothing is supple and weak in relation to water Yet of those things which attack the firm and unyielding Nothing is able to do better In what is absent, this easily happens.
78.2 Being supple conquers the unyielding Being weak conquers the firm In the world Noone is without knowing it Noone is able to practice it.
78.3 Appropriately it happens that sages say He who accepts the disgrace of a nation Is appropriately called lord of the grain shrine He who accepts the misfortune of a nation Is appropriately acting as the king of the world. Correct words look like they turn back.

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79.1 Harmonize great resentment Seed the presence of a surplus of resentment How can valuing actions happen peacefully?
79.2 Appropriately it happens that sages Take hold of the left of a contract Yet lack censure in relating to men.
79.3 Presence of ideal controls the agreement Absence of ideal controls its resolution.
79.4 The tao of heaven is absent of favorites It is entirely with the valuing man.

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80.1 A tiny nation, few people Suppose the presence of 10 or one hundred times too many tools Yet they are unused Suppose people heavy with death Yet lack moving far.
80.2 Even present with boats and carriages There is an absence of a place to be riding Even present with armor and weapons There is an absence of a place to be displaying them.
80.3 Suppose men return to knotting cords and using them What is eaten is sweet What serves as clothing is beautiful What is a home is peaceful What is common is joyful.
80.4 Nearby nations overlook each other Crowing, barking sounds are heard by each other People reach old age and die Without coming and going between each other

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81.1 Believed words lack embellishment Embellished words lack belief.
81.2 Those who value lack argument Those who argue lack valuing
81.3 Those who know lack learning Those who learn lack knowing.
81.4 The sages are without accumulating Grasping, it happens they act Others later gain presence Grasping, it happens they give Others later gain abundance.
81.5 The tao of the heavens Benefitting yet without spoiling The tao of the sages Acting yet without contending.