Superior De seems like a valley. The greatest purity seems like disgrace. The most extensive De seems like it is not enough. Established De seems aimless. Real and true character seems inconsistent. The greatest region is without borders. The greatest vessel is last to be completed. The greatest tone is a tenuous sound. The greatest image is without-form. Dao is hidden and without-name. Now : only Dao is good at beginning and also good at completing. The superior scholar hearing of Dao works hard and practices it. [performs] The average scholar hearing of Dao seems to keep it, seems to lose it. [middle] ♦The inferior scholar hearing of Dao laughs greatly at it. ♦If he did not laugh, it would not be qualified3 to be Dao. Therefore : in the established sayings2A that exist, it is said – Insight into Dao seems like darkness. [wise,sight] ♦Advancing in Dao seems like retreating. ♦Smooth Dao seems knotted.B ♦Superior De seems like a valley. ♦The greatest purity seems like disgrace. ♦The most extensive De seems like it is not enough. ♦Established De seems aimless. Real and true character seems inconsistent. [change] ♦The greatest region is without borders.C The greatest vessel is last to be completed.D [late] The greatest tone is a tenuous sound. [rare] The greatest image is without-form. Dao is hidden and without-name. Now : only Dao is good at beginning and also good at completing.E Notes A : Ames&Hall comment that it is unknown whether “established sayings” is referring to proverbs in general, or a specific work that no longer exists B : compare to #53, where “Dao is extremely even” C : this line could just as likely be translated as The greatest square is without corners but considering that the DDJ often refers to nations, this translation seems more appropriate D : a euphemism for “great talents mature slowly” E : although this line only survives in MWD/B of the three earlier sources, it is used here because it is much more straightforward and understandable than the later three Cross-references scholar : #15, #68 valley : #6, #15, #28, #32, #39, #66 tone and voice/sound (same symbol) : #2 tenuous : #14 hidden : #15 without-name : #1, #32, #37 Chapter Forty Two 道 生 一 一 生 二 二 生 三 三 生 萬 物 萬 物 負 陰 而 抱 陽 沖 氣 以 為 和 人 之 所 惡 唯 孤 寡 不 穀 而 王 公 以 (自) 稱 • (•)故 物 或 損 之 而 益 或 益 之 而 損 人 之 所 教 我 亦 教 之 強 梁 者 不 得 其 死 吾 將 以 為 教 父