54 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. I42 



Tao is all-pervading, 



And its use is inexhaustible ! 

 Fathomless ! 



Like the fountain head of all things. (P. 585.) 



In loving the people and governing the kingdom, 

 Can you rule without interference? (P. 587.) 



In his relations with others, he loves kindness ; 

 In his words, he loves sincerity. (P. 587.) 



He who holds fast to the Tao of old 



In order to manage the affairs of Now 

 Is able to know the Primeval Beginnings 



Which are the continuity of Tao. (P. 590.) 



Attain the utmost in humility; 



Hold firm to the basis of quietude. (P. 591.) 



Of the best rulers, 

 The people only know that they exist. (P. 591.) 



Banish learning, and vexations end. (P. 593.) 



The marks of great virtue 

 Follow alone from the Tao. 

 The thing that is called Tao 



Is elusive, evasive, 

 Evasive, elusive. 



Yet latent in it arc forms. (P. 594.) 



To yield is to be preserved whole. 



To be bent is to become straight. 



To be hollow is to be filled. 



To be tattered is to be renewed. 



To be in want is to possess. 



To have plenty is to be confused. (P. 594.) 



Before the Heaven and Earth existed 



There was something nebulous : 



Silent, isolated. 



Standing alone, changing not, 



Eternally revolving without fail, 



Worthy to be Mother of All Things. 



I do not know its name 



And address it as Tao. (P. 596.) 



Tao is absolute and has no name. (P. 601.) 



The great Tao flows everywhere, 



(like a flood) it may go left or right. 

 The myriad things derive their life from it, 



And it does not deny them. (P. 602.) 



The Tao never does. 



Yet through it everything is done. 



