二十八章
知其雄，守其雌，为天下溪。
为天下溪，常德不离。
常德不离，复归于婴儿。
知其荣，守其辱，为天下谷。
为天下谷，常德乃足。
常德乃足，复归于朴。
知其白，守其黑，为天下式。
为天下式，常德不忒。
常德不忒，复归于无极。
朴散则为器，圣人用之，则为官长。
故大制无割。
He who is aware of the Male
But keeps to the Female
Becomes the ravine of the world.
Being the ravine of the world,
He has the original character (teh) which is not
cut up.
And returns again to the (innocence of the) babe.
He who is conscious of the white (bright)
But keeps to the black (dark)
Becomes the model for the world.
Being the model for the world,
He has the eternal power which never errs,
And returns again to the Primordial Nothingness.
He who is familiar with honor and glory
But keeps to obscurity
Becomes the valley of the world.
Being the valley of the world,
He has an eternal power which always suffices,
And returns again to the natural integrity of uncarved
wood.
Break up this uncarved wood
And it is shaped into vessel
In the hands of the Sage
They become the officials and magistrates.
Therefore the great ruler does not cut up.
