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Laotze
Dao De Jing

English Version by Bob Gonzalez

FORTY-SIX
When the Way is pursued, horses haul manure.
When the Way is lost, horses are bred for war.
The greatest fault is wanting too much.
The greatest trouble is discontent. The greatest flaw is greed.
Therefore, if you know that you have enough, you will always be content.

FORTY-SEVEN
You don't have to go outside to know the world.
You don't need to look out of a window to know the Way of Heaven.
The further you go, the less you know.
That is why the sage knows without going,
understands without looking, succeeds without straining.

FORTY-EIGHT
Learning is daily gaining. The Way is daily losing.
More and more is lost until one does no act.
When one does no act, nothing is not done.
No act for gain can gain the world.
Act for gain and lose the world.

FORTY-NINE
The sages have no personal preferences, but accept the people's preferences as their own.
"I am good to those who are good. I also am good to those who are not good.
Thus I become good.
"I am honest with those who are honest as well as with those who are dishonest.
Thus I become honest."
The sages have no separate view but blend with the people's mind.
The people all strain their eyes and ears while the sages see them in the innocence of infancy.

FIFTY
When life goes out, death comes in.
There are thirteen entrances to life, thirteen entrances to death,
and the entrances to life-in-death are also thirteen.
Why is this? Because of excessive living.
It is said that those who know to preserve their life well
meet no wild animals or weapons of war.
No buffalo horn will strike them, no tiger claw will touch them,
no thrusting blade will penetrate them.
Why? Because they do not allow death an entrance.

FIFTY-ONE
The Way originates them, Vigor nourishes them,
Nature forms them and Experience matures them.
Thus All Things treasure the Way and cherish Vigor,
not out of obligation but spontaneously.
The Way originates;
Vigor nourishes, raises, protects and educates.
Therefore, originate without taking possession,
accomplish without taking credit, nourish without interfering.
This is the way of subtle vigor.

FIFTY-TWO
All under Heaven have a beginning because all under Heaven have a mother.
When we find the mother, we can know her children.
Knowing the children, yet returning and staying with the mother,
we will be safe all our life long.
Block the passages. Close the doors. and all your life long you will enjoy peace.
Open the passages. Increase your activities. And all your life long you will be lost.
To see the small is called "insight." To guard weakness is called "strength."
Use your insight to cultivate illumination and thereby save your life.
This is called "practicing long life."

FIFTY-THREE
If I had only a little learning as I walked a broad way, I would only fear straying.
The broad way is smooth, but people think by-ways are better.
The palace is magnificent, but the fields are overgrown with weeds.
The granaries are empty, but the royal garments are elegant.
Men carry sharp swords but glut themselves on food and drink.
They have more wealth and possessions than they could ever possibly use!
This is robbery. It is certainly not the Way.

FIFTY-FOUR
What is well-established will not be uprooted. What is well-embraced will not slip away.
It will be honored for generations to come.
Cultivate yourself and excellence is realized.
Cultivate your family and excellence overflows.
Cultivate your community and excellence endures.
Cultivate your country and excellence abounds.
Cultivate the world and excellence is everywhere.
Thus, the way you see others comes from the way you see yourself.
The way you see other families comes from the way you see your family.
The way you see other communities comes from the way you see your community.
The way you see other countries comes from the way you see your country.
The way you see the world comes from the way you see your world.
How do I know the world? Using this.

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English Version by Bob Gonzalez

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