Chapter 32

道常无名

Chapter Translation

道dào常cháng无wú名míng，

朴pǔ虽suī小xiǎo，

天tiān下xià莫mò能néng臣chén。

侯hóu王wáng若ruò能néng守shǒu之zhī，

万wàn物wù将jiāng自zì宾bīn。

天tiān地dì相xiāng合hé，

以yǐ降jiàng甘gān露lù，

民mín莫mò之zhī令lìng而ér自zì均jūn。

始shǐ制zhì有yǒu名míng，

名míng亦yì既jì有yǒu，

夫fū亦yì将jiāng知zhī止zhǐ，

知zhī止zhǐ可kě以yǐ不bù殆dài。

譬pì道dào之zhī在zài天tiān下xià，

犹yóu川chuān谷gǔ之zhī于yú江jiāng海hǎi。

a> The Dao is ever nameless. Though the uncarved block be small, it cannot be made the subordinate of any in the world. If a king or lord could preserve it, the things of the world would come to him of themselves. As heaven and earth conjoin to send down sweet dew, the people will settle themselves, though none so decrees.

As soon as it is cut, then there are names. Once there are names one must know it’s time to stop. Knowing to stop is the way to avoid danger.

b> The Dao is to the world as the Yangzi and sea are to streams and brooks.

A modern classroom translation, with labeled subsections for study.