Laozi's Dao De Jing 51-53 (老子道德經 51-53)

Author: Laozi (老子); translated by James Legge

If I were suddenly to become known, and (put into a position to) conduct (a government) according to the Great Tao, what I should be most afraid of would be a boastful display.

第五十一章
道生之，德畜之，物形之，勢成之。是以萬物莫不尊道而貴德。道之尊， 德之貴，夫莫之命而常自然。故道生之，德畜之﹔長之育之﹔成之熟之﹔ 養之覆之。生而不有，為而不恃，長而不宰。是謂玄德。

Chapter 51

1. All things are produced by the Tao, and nourished by its outflowing operation. They receive their forms according to the nature of each, and are completed according to the circumstances of their condition. Therefore all things without exception honour the Tao, and exalt its outflowing operation.

2. This honouring of the Tao and exalting of its operation is not the result of any ordination, but always a spontaneous tribute.

3. Thus it is that the Tao produces (all things), nourishes them, brings them to their full growth, nurses them, completes them, matures them, maintains them, and overspreads them.

4. It produces them and makes no claim to the possession of them; it carries them through their processes and does not vaunt its ability in doing so; it brings them to maturity and exercises no control over them;—this is called its mysterious operation.

第五十二章
天下有始，以為天下母。既得其母，以知其子，復守其母，沒身不殆。塞 其兌，閉其門，終身不勤。開其兌，濟其事，終身不救。見小曰明，守柔 曰強。用其光，復歸其明，無遺身殃﹔是為習常。

Chapter 52
1. (The Tao) which originated all under the sky is to be considered as the mother of them all.

2. When the mother is found, we know what her children should be. When one knows that he is his mother's child, and proceeds to guard (the qualities of) the mother that belong to him, to the end of his life he will be free from all peril.

3. Let him keep his mouth closed, and shut up the portals (of his nostrils), and all his life he will be exempt from laborious exertion. Let him keep his mouth open, and (spend his breath) in the promotion of his affairs, and all his life there will be no safety for him.

4. The perception of what is small is (the secret of) clear-sightedness; the guarding of what is soft and tender is (the secret of) strength.

5. Who uses well his light,
Reverting to its (source so) bright,
Will from his body ward all blight,
And hides the unchanging from men's sight.

第五十三章
使我介然有知，行于大道，唯施是畏。大道甚夷，而人好徑。朝甚除，田 甚蕪，倉甚虛﹔服文采，帶利劍，厭飲食，財貨有餘﹔是為盜夸。非道也 哉！

Chapter 53

1. If I were suddenly to become known, and (put into a position to) conduct (a government) according to the Great Tao, what I should be most afraid of would be a boastful display.

2. The great Tao (or way) is very level and easy; but people love the by-ways.

3. Their court(-yards and buildings) shall be well kept, but their fields shall be ill-cultivated, and their granaries very empty. They shall wear elegant and ornamented robes, carry a sharp sword at their girdle, pamper themselves in eating and drinking, and have a superabundance of property and wealth;—such (princes) may be called robbers and boasters. This is contrary to the Tao surely!