People starve. The rulers consume too much with their taxes. That is why people starve.
Heaven’s Way is like stretching a bow. The high is lowered and the low is raised. Excess is reduced and deficiency is replenished. Heaven’s Way reduces excess and replenishes deficiency. People’s Way is not so. They reduce the deficient and supply the excessive.
Who has excess and supplies the world? Only the one who follows the Way.
The Way is the source of all things, good people’s treasure and bad people’s refuge.
What Heaven detests, who knows why? Even the sage considers it difficult.
Heaven’s Way gives no favors. It always remains with good people.
Ancient masters of excellence had a subtle essence, and a depth too profound to comprehend.
The ancients said: Hulk to be whole.
Why did the ancients praise the Way? Did they not say it was because you find what you seek and are saved from your wrongdoings?
In ancient times, those who followed the Way did not try to give people knowledge thereof, but kept them ignorant.
Dignified, like a guest.
The noble must make humility his root.
Cultivate virtue in yourself, and it will be true.
To retreat after a work well done is Heaven’s Way.
A good speaker does not stutter.
A good door needs no lock, still it can’t be opened.
Being a model to the world, eternal virtue will never falter in you, and you return to the boundless.
When the uncarved wood is split, its parts are put to use. When the sage is put to use, he becomes the head.
Those who are unswerving have resolve.
The sage governs by emptying senses and filling bellies.