Dao De Jing (5)

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Dao De Jing (5)

Chapter5

Heaven and Earth are ruthless;
To them the Ten Thousand Things are but as straw dogs.
The Sage too is ruthless;
To him the people are but as straw dogs.
Yet[1] Heaven and Earth and all that lies between
Is like a bellows
In that it is empty, but gives a supply that never fails.
Work it, and more comes out .
Whereas the force of words[2] is soon spent.
Far better is it to keep what is in the heart[3].

[1]Though ruthless nature is perpetually bounteous.
[2]Laws and proclamations.
[3]For chung as 'what is within the heart, see Tso Chuan, Yin Kung 3rd year and Kuan Tzu,37, beginning. The comparison of Heaven and Earth to a bellows is also found in Kuan Tzu (P'ien 11, beginning).

第五章　
　　
天地不仁，以万物为刍狗；圣人不仁，以百姓为刍狗。
　　天地之间，其犹橐籥乎！虚而不屈，动而愈出。
　　多言数穷，不如守中。

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