04道德经英译本85种-第419节
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When the world takes its beginning； Reason becomes the world's mother。
As one knows his mother； so she in turn knows her child； as she quickens her child； so he in turn keeps to his mother； and to the end of life he is not in danger。 Who closes his mouth； and shuts his sense…gates； in the end of life he will encounter no trouble； but who opens his mouth and meddles with affairs； in the end of life he cannot be saved。
Who beholds his smallness is called enlightened。 Who preserves his tenderness is called strong。 Who uses Reason's light and returns home to its enlightenment does not surrender his person to perdition。 This is called practising the eternal。
53
Gaining Insight
If I have ever so little knowledge； I shall walk in the great Reason。 It is but expansion that I must fear。
The great Reason is very plain； but people are fond of by…paths。
When the palace is very splendid； the fields are very weedy and granaries very empty。
To wear ornaments and gay clothes； to carry sharp swords； to be excessive in drinking and eating； to have a redundance of costly articles； this is the pride of robbers。
Surely； this is un…Reason。
54
The Cultivation of Inituition
〃What is well planted is not uprooted；
What's well preserved can not be looted！〃
By sons and grandsons the sacrificial celebrations shall not cease。
Who cultivates Reason in his person； his virtue is genuine。
Who cultivates it in his house； his virtue is overflowing。
Who cultivates it in his township； his virtue is lasting。
Who cultivates it in his country； his virtue is abundant。
Who cultivates it in the world； his virtue is universal。
Therefore；
By one's person one tests persons。
By one's house one tests houses。
By one's township one tests townships。
By one's country one tests countries。
By one's world one tests worlds。
How do I know that the world is such？ Through IT。
55
The Signet of the Mysterious
He who possesses virtue in all its solidity is like unto a little child。
Venomous reptiles do not sting him； fierce beasts do not seize him。 Birds of prey do not strike him。 His bones are weak； his sinews tender； but his grasp is firm。 He does not yet know the relation between male and female； but his virility is strong。 Thus his metal grows to perfection。 A whole day he might cry and sob without growing hoarse。 This shows the perfection of his harmony。
To know the harmonious is called the eternal。 To know the eternal is called enlightenment。
To increase life is called a blessing； and heart…directed vitality is called strength； but things vigorous are about to grow old and I call this un…Reason。
Un…Reason soon ceases！
56
The Virtue of the Mysterious
One who knows does not talk。 One who talks does not know。 Therefore the sage keeps his mouth shut and his sense…gates closed。
〃He will blunt his own sharpness； His own tangles adjust； He will dim his own radiance； And be one with his dust。〃
This is called profound identification。
Thus he is inaccessible to love and also inaccessible to enmity。 He is inaccessible to profit and inaccessible to loss。 He is also inaccessible to favor and inaccessible to disgrace。 Thus he becomes world…honored。
57
Simplicity in Habits
With rectitude one governs the state； with craftiness one leads the army； with non…diplomacy one takes the empire。 How do I know that it is so？ Through IT。
The more restrictions and prohibitions are in the empire； the poorer grow the people。 The more weapons the people have； the more troubled is the state。 The more there is cunning and skill； the more startling events will happen。 The more mandates and laws are enacted； the more there will be thieves and robbers。
Therefore the holy man says： I practise non…assertion； and the people of themselves reform。 I love quietude； and the people of themselves become righteous。 I use no diplomacy； and the people of themselves become rich。 I have no desire； and the people of themselves remain simple。
58
Adaptation to Change
Whose government is unostentatious； quite unostentatious； his people will be prosperous； quite prosperous。 Whose government is prying； quite prying； his people will be needy； quite needy。
Misery； alas！ rests upon happiness。 Happiness； alas！ underlies misery。 But who foresees the catastrophe？ It will not be prevented！
What is ordinary becomes again extraordinary。 What is good becomes again unpropitious。 This bewilders people； and it happens constantly since times immemorial。
Therefore the holy man is square but not sharp； strict but not obnoxious； upright but not restraining； bright but not dazzling。
59
Hold Fast to Reason
To govern the people is the affair of heaven and there is nothing like thrift。
Now consider that thrift is said to come from early practice。
By early practice it is said that we can accumulate an abundance of virtue。 If one accumulates an abundance of virtue then there is nothing that can not be overcome。
When nothing can not be overcome then no one knows his limit。 When no one knows his limit one can have possession of the commonwealth。
Who has possession of the commonwealth's mother ＇thrift＇ may last and abide。
This is called the possession of deep roots and of a staunch stem。 To life； to everlastingness； to comprehension； this is the way。
60
How to Maintain One's Place
Govern a great country as you would fry small fish： ＇neither gut nor scale them。＇
If with Reason the empire is managed； its ghosts will not spook。 Not only will its ghosts not spook； but its gods will not harm the people。 Not only will its gods not harm the people； but neither will its holy men harm the people。 Since neither will do harm； therefore their virtues will be combined。
61
The Virtue of Humility
A great state； one that lowly flows； becomes the empire's union； and the empire's wife。
The wife always through quietude conquers her husband； and by quietude renders herself lowly。
Thus a great state through lowliness toward small states will conquer the small states； and small states through lowliness toward great states will conquer great states。
Therefore some render themselves lowly for the purpose of conquering； others are lowly and therefore conquer。
A great state desires no more than to unite and feed the people； a small state desires no more than to devote itself to the service of the people； but that both may obtain their wishes； the greater one must stoop。
62
Practise Reason
The man of Reason is the ten thousand creatures' refuge； the good man's wealth； the bad man's stay。
With beautiful words one can sell。 With honest conduct one can do still more with the people。
If a man be bad； why should he be thrown away？ Therefore； an emperor was elected and three ministers appointed； but better than holding before one's face the jade table ＇of the ministry＇ and riding with four horses； is sitting still and propounding the eternal Reason。
Why do the ancients prize this Reason？ Is it not； say； because when sought it is obtained and the sinner thereby can be saved？ Therefore it is world…honored。
63
Consider Beginnings
Assert non…assertion。
Practise non…practice。
Taste the tasteless。
Make great the small。
Make much the little。
Requite hatred with virtue。
Contemplate a difficulty when it is easy。 Manage a great thing when it is small。
The world's most difficult undertakings necessarily originate while easy； and the world's greatest undertakings necessarily originate while small。
Therefore the holy man to the end does not venture to play the great； and thus he can accomplish his greatness。
Rash promises surely lack faith； and many easy things surely involve in many difficulties。
Therefore； the holy man regards everything as difficult； and thus to the end encounters no difficulties。
64
Mind the Insignificant
What is still at rest is easily kept quiet。 What has not as yet appeared is easily prevented。 What is still feeble is easily broken。 What is still scant is easily dispersed。
Treat things before they exist。 Regulate things before disorder begins。 The stout tree has originated from a tiny rootlet。 A tower of nine stories is raised by heaping up ＇bricks of＇ clay。 A thousand miles' journey begins with a foot。
He that makes mars。 He that grasps loses。
The holy man does not make； therefore he mars not。 He does not grasp； therefore he loses not。 The people when undertaking an enterprise are always near completion； and yet they fail。
Remain careful to the end as in the beginning and you will not fail in your enterprise。
Therefore the holy man desires to be desireless； and does not prize articles difficult to obtain。 He learns； not to be learned； and seeks a home where multitudes of people pass by。
He assists the ten thousand things in t
