Chapter 38 — The most Characterful is Characterless And thus has Character
Chapter 39 — In the beginning, the One conferred Character like so:
Chapter 40 — Inversion is the movement of the Way Reduction is the exertion of the Way The world and all things are born into existence And existence is born into non-existence
Chapter 41 — An excellent man learns of the Way And diligently walks it
Chapter 42 — The Way gives birth to One One gives birth to Two Two gives birth to Three Three gives birth to all things All things carry Yin on their back and embrace Yang in their bosom Qi infuses them, bringing...
Chapter 43 — The softest in the world Gallops right through the hardest Non existence needs no entrance to enter Knowing this, I play no role, and am well off for it!
Chapter 44 — Reputation, or self, which is dear? Self or belongings, when is too much? Gain or loss, which is maladious?
Chapter 45 — Boundless perfection is incomplete Yet its use has no defect Boundless plentitude is empty Yet its use has no expiration Boundless uprightness bends Boundless ingenuity is inept Boundless eloquence is...
Chapter 46 — When the world has the Way Horses are retired and used for manure
Chapter 47 — Without leaving through your door, you can know the world Without peering out your window, you can see the Way of Heaven
Chapter 48 — Emulate others and gain daily Follow the Way and lose daily
Chapter 49 — The Sage has no unchanging heart He takes the peoples heart as his
Chapter 50 — Exit life, enter death; The followers of life number three in ten The followers of death number three in ten Men whose life stirs towards Earthly end number three in ten
Chapter 51 — The Way births them Virtue raises them Matter forms them Energy perfects them So all things venerate the Way and cherish Character
Chapter 52 — All the world came into existence When first wrought by our Mother
Chapter 53 — My mission is to introduce the knowledgeable To walking the boundless Way Only sharing it with the meek
Chapter 54 — A good foundation cannot be uprooted A good embrace will not let it slip The heirs make oblation without cease
Chapter 55 — Those ripe with Character Are akin to a newborn
Chapter 56 — Know it wordlessly Speak it unknowingly
Chapter 57 — Use orthodoxy to order a nation Use wonder to wield an army Do not interfere in worldly affairs, and attain the world
Chapter 58 — If your governance is unconcerned Your people will be uncorrupted If your governance is precise Your people will break into pieces
Chapter 59 — In treating with Man and serving Heaven, there is nothing is like restraint;
Chapter 60 — Ruling a great nation is like frying little fish
Chapter 61 — A great nation lives under the flow In the world it mixes The world its female
Chapter 62 — The Wayfarer sits in the most honoured place among the ten thousand things
Chapter 63 — Act without "acting" Engage without engaging Savour without savouring Venerate the small Esteem the inadequate Answer enmity with Character
Chapter 64 — The firm easily bear The early easily plan The brittle easily break The small are easily freed
Chapter 65 — The skilled Wayfarers of ancient days Did not use the Way to enlighten people But to humble them
Chapter 66 — The river and sea are able rulers of the one hundred valleys For they like to flow down them They're able to rule them
Chapter 67 — All the world says my Way is boundless It seems to have no likeness
Chapter 68 — A skilled soldier is not violent A good warrior is dispassionate A true victor does not instigate A worthy leader acts with humility
Chapter 70 — I share such simple teachings And tell of such easy practices
Chapter 71 — To know without knowledge is the highest attainment To not know even with knowledge is an illness
Chapter 72 — If the people do not terrify their masters Their masters will have complete dominion!
Chapter 73 — Courage with boldness is the rule of death Courage with prudence is the rule of life One of these is useful, one is dangerous...
Chapter 74 — If the people do not fear death What use is scaring them with it?
Chapter 75 — The people starve For their rulers keep dining on their taxes Leaving them famished
Chapter 76 — A living man is soft and delicate! But in death, is hard and unbendable!
Chapter 77 — Is the Way of Heaven not like drawing a bow? The lofty are torn down The lowly are lifted up The wealthy diminished The empty handed aided
Chapter 78 — There is nothing in the World as soft and flexible as water It attacks the hardest and the strongest things, and they cannot bear it! Nothing can take its place
Chapter 79 — Where harmony exceeds enmity Surely, some enmity still remains; Is this proper?
Chapter 81 — True words are not pleasing Pleasant words are not true Good ones do not quibble Quarrelsome ones are not good Wise ones are not accessible Accessible ones are not wise