Not showing [that which] can be desired Ensures that the citizens’ heart/minds do not become confused. [cause,make] ♦Thus2 the governing of the sage2 ♦Empties their heart/mindsA, fills° their stomachs, ♦Weakens their ambitions, strengthens their bones. ♦By always ensuring that the citizens are without-knowledge and without-desire, [cause,make] Those who make men wise*B will not dare to act. Act with non-action, then all2 will be governed ! Notes A : presumably of striving, greed, and confusion B : presumably referring to Confucians; earlier sources use the non-Confucian term “knowledgeable” instead of “wise” Cross-references no striving : #8, #22, #66, #68, #73, #81 rare goods : #12, #64 without-desire : #1, #34, #37, #57 weak : #29, #36, #40, #55, #76, #78 strong : #29, #30, #33, #36, #52, #55, #67, #78 not daring to act : #64, #67, #69 non-action : #2, #37, #38, #43, #48, #57, #63, #64 act with non-action : #63 anti-Confucian : #18, #19, #27, #33, #38 Chapter Four 道 (盅) 而 用 之 (有) 不 盈 • 淵 兮 似 萬 物 之 宗 • 挫 其 銳 • 解 其 紛 • 和 其 光 同 其 塵 湛 兮 似 或 存 • 吾 不 知 誰 之 子 • 象 帝 之 先 • Dao is like a cup or bowl, yet use it and there exists no need to fill it. Profound and deep!, it appears to be the ancestor of the ten thousand creatures. It blunts their sharpness, Loosens their tangles, Softens their brightness, Makes them the same as the dust of the world. Deep and profound!, it seems to barely exist. I do not know whose child it is – Its image came before that of god. Dao is like a cup or bowlA, yet use it and there exists no [need to] fill it. Profound and deep !, it appears to be the ancestor of the ten thousand creatures. It blunts their sharpness, [dampens,subdues] ♦Loosens their tangles,B ♦Softens their brightness,C ♦Makes them the same as the dust of the world D. Deep and profound !, it seems to barely exist.E [might,maybe,perhaps] I do not know whose [à] child it is – ♦Its image came before that of god{emperor}. Notes A : while the symbol used here only appears in one out of four sources, it gives the most straightforward translation; Dao is like a cup in that its usefulness is in its emptiness (see #11 and #25) B : this line could just as likely be translated as Clarifies their confusion C : compare to #58, where the sage is bright but does not dazzle