Tao Te Ching

Verse 1

The Tao that can be explained is not the eternal Tao.
The name that can be spoken is not the eternal name.

That which has no name is the ultimate truth.
Names are the source of all worldly things.

This mystery can only be understood free from desire.
Bound by desire, truth is not seen—only its expression.

The mystery is in the expression.
Where the mystery is deep, the expression is subtle and wondrous.

Verse 2

Opposites in the world are connected.
High and low, hard and easy, long and short,
All depend on each other.

If you see only one, the other cannot appear.
Therefore, the wise understand all opposites
Without getting trapped in them.

They see things, not themselves.
In this understanding lies balance,
And in that balance, the simplicity of life.

Verse 3

When people chase praise and desire,
They spread unrest in the world.

The wise say:
“Be content, reduce desire.
Show goodness, do not create conflict.

Teach people, but do not bind them.
Let them be happy in a simple life.

Thus harmony remains,
And peace stays in life.”

Verse 4

Tao is empty and limitless,
Like a hollow furnace or a deep ocean.

It holds everything,
Yet is bound by nothing.

It is infinite, steady, and unmoved.
Those who understand it find stability and peace.

Verse 5

Nature makes no likes or dislikes.
The sun, moon, and stars all play their roles.

So, the wise person shows no partiality.
They only act, free from desire for results.

Verse 6

All living things carry life energy.
This energy is called Tao.

Those who understand it live in peace and contentment.
There is no need to force power;
It flows naturally.

Verse 7

All move toward death.
Life is temporary, and all things change.

The wise know that
Accumulation and desire only bring suffering.

So they live free from attachment,
In peace and contentment.

Verse 8

Virtue and compassion are best.
The wise make life simple and humble.

Be like water:
Humble, flowing everywhere,
Weak in appearance, yet conquering all.

This is how strength and peace remain in life.

Verse 9

When you try to grasp too much,
Failure follows.

The more you cling,
The more you lose.

Thus the wise act with contentment
And avoid excessive desire.

Verse 10

Keep body, mind, and spirit together.
Balance all desires.

If you understand this,
You remain free from fear, anxiety, and ignorance.

Those who find peace within
Are not disturbed by the world outside.

Verse 11

Deep bowls, empty space,
And open doors—
Their usefulness comes from emptiness.

What is empty has utility.
What is full can never be completely useful.

Verse 12

Rainbow, sparkle of eyes,
Fragrance, and taste—
Excessive attachment to these brings suffering.

The wise do not get trapped in desires or sensations.
They enjoy them without attachment.

Verse 13

Success and failure, fame and shame—
All are mere appearances.

Those who are steady remain unaffected.
True peace lies in this steadiness.

Verse 14

Things you can see or hear
Are only forms.

Reality is hidden,
Beyond eyes and ears.

Those who understand this live in constant peace.

Verse 15

Past and future, long and short,
All opposites exist only in perception.

The wise do not try to grasp them.
They feel them and let go.

Verse 16

To follow the right path,
No rules or actions are needed.

What is natural is steady.
Even in motion, it is light and free.

Verse 17

A true leader lets people feel
They are free.
He gives no orders,
But shows the natural way.

When people feel no obstacles,
Their life is balanced and simple.

Verse 18

Excess words and show
Reduce the power of truth.

Those who are at peace
Speak less and act more.

The depth of truth is in silence,
Not in speech.

Verse 19

If people are free from desire and ego,
Concerns of morality and lies vanish.

What is simple is steady.
Where simplicity is, there is contentment and peace.

Verse 20

People run and tire in the world,
But never find true happiness.

The wise know
To desire little, do less,
And keep peace within is real happiness.

Verse 21

The supreme Tao is steady and peaceful.
It is neither visible nor graspable.

Those who understand it are free from past and future.
They live with all things,
Yet are bound to none.

Verse 22

Be humble,
And you gain respect.
Be harsh,
And people fear, but do not love.

The humble and simple
Remain steady and safe among all things.

Verse 23

Talking too much does not end confusion,
It increases it.

Speak less, and all becomes clear.
Remember that words are only signs,
Truth does not follow them.

Verse 24

Those who reduce desire
Remain steady and free.

Those who seek to show power
Remain trapped in fear and worry.

Being simple and calm is best.

Verse 25

Tao is infinite and indirect.
Its power pervades all,
But it cannot be grasped.

All things arise from it,
Yet it is bound by nothing.

Verse 26

Deep stability cannot be easily shaken.
Thus the wise
Keep themselves steady,
Even if circumstances change.

Verse 27

The action done effortlessly
Is the most effective.

Those who speak to impress others
Tire quickly.

On the Tao path,
Work is simple and natural.

Verse 28

Be gentle and steady.
Like water, the softest,
Yet it conquers all.

Humility and simplicity hold power.
Excessive harshness or ego brings ruin.

Verse 29

If you try to change the world,
You lose it.

Like damming a river halts its flow,
Forcing power brings opposite results.

Verse 30

The wise avoid fighting and violence.
They only strengthen themselves,
Without harming others.

On the Tao path,
They remain calm, simple, and strong.

Verse 31

Showing strength with weapons
Is not true power.

The wise know
True strength is in humility and restraint.

Those who boast and are harsh
Tire quickly.

Verse 32

The right path is steady and simple.
People want to make it difficult and complex,
But the simpler it is, the steadier it remains.

Verse 33

Those who know themselves
Understand others as well.

Those who are content
Remain steady and free.

Power and fame are illusions;
The calm and simple are lasting.

Verse 34

All things arise from Tao,
But Tao is bound by nothing.

It is steady, peaceful, and balanced.
Those who understand this
Find peace and contentment.

Verse 35

The most beautiful and best path
Is subtle and invisible.

Those who understand it
Remain steady and free in their hearts.

Where words end,
There Tao begins.

Verse 36

Excessive desire and devotion
Make a person unbalanced.

Those who are balanced and simple
Remain steady and happy.

In having little there is contentment,
And in contentment, peace.

Verse 37

Tao always exists,
Yet cannot be grasped.

Those who embrace it
Gain everything.

Those who understand it
Remain steady and calm.

Verse 38

True respect does not depend on others.
True reward is free from desire.

Those who are calm and simple
Are the most honored.

Verse 39

Unity and diversity
Are present in all things.

Those who understand this
Do not discriminate among others.

They live with all,
Yet are bound to nothing.

Verse 40

All things come from Tao.
Those who know it live in peace.

Move forward lightly and freely.
The more you force, the less success you have.

Verse 41

The truly wise
Speak little.

Those who speak much
Fall into confusion.

True wisdom is in silence,
Not in speech.

Verse 42

All things arise from Tao.
They live and take form.

Tao is behind them,
Yet bound by nothing.

Those who understand this
Remain steady and balanced.

Verse 43

True strength is in humility.
The gentle conquer all.

The harsh and proud lose quickly.
Those calm and simple remain lasting and strong.

Verse 44

The more you desire to gain,
The more you fear losing.

Those who are content
Remain steady and free.

Desire little, and you will gain everything.

Verse 45

Truth is beautiful,
Yet unseen.

Peace is steady,
Yet felt.

Those who understand this
Know it without words.

Verse 46

People think peace comes from war and power.
In truth,
Peace comes only from simplicity and humility.

Those who boast
Remain unstable and fearful.

Verse 47

Those who seek joy in external things
Never find complete happiness.

Those who seek peace within
Remain always content.

True knowledge is not outside,
It is within.

Verse 48

The more you try to learn,
The more confusion grows.

Those who know that little is enough
Remain steady and free.

The true teacher is the one
Who shows simplicity.

Verse 49

All seek truth,
But vision is confused.

The wise know
Truth is only in experience and simplicity.

The less they see,
The more they understand.

Verse 50

Life and death are only change.
Those who understand this do not fear.

Maintaining balance between birth and death
Is the true path.

Verse 51

All things arise from Tao,
But Tao is bound by nothing.

Those who embrace it live in peace.
Those who do not understand it
Are trapped in fear and desire.

Verse 52

Tao is steady and peaceful.
Those who understand it remain balanced.

All beings are born from it
And return to it.

Verse 53

Those who reduce desires
Find contentment in a simple life.

Those who want more
Are trapped in unrest and suffering.

Contentment is stability and freedom.

Verse 54

The greatest leader
Shows the way without forcing it.

Those who are calm and simple
Teach balance to others as well.

Verse 55

True power is without struggle.
Those who are calm and gentle
Conquer all.

Ego and harshness only bring ruin.

Verse 56

The wise do not get into disputes.
They understand things and events,
But are not trapped by them.

This is true steadiness and freedom.

Verse 57

True governance
Gives fewer orders and more freedom.
People become responsible and balanced.

Those who control excessively
Spread unrest and fear.

Verse 58

Success and failure are mere appearances.
Those who give them too much importance
Become unstable.

The wise are content
And care not for outcomes.

Verse 59

Security and strength
Come only through simplicity and restraint.

Those who boast
Are easily shaken.

The true leader is calm and humble.

Verse 60

The Tao path is simple.
Those who follow it
Are free from fear and desire.

Move lightly,
And work will be natural and easy.

Verse 61

A true leader
Burdens no one.
Those who are free
Are shown the way.

Those who are harsh and oppressive
Spread fear and unrest.

Verse 62

Tao is beloved,
Yet unseen.
It is strongest,
Yet gentle and humble.

Those who follow it remain steady and free.

Verse 63

Complete work without desire.
Those who want more
Fail.

Those who are calm and simple
Find success and contentment.

Verse 64

Great journeys begin with small steps.
Those who rush
Fall behind.

Patience and persistence
Are the true way.

Verse 65

The true leader
Does not show off.
They only show the way.

People respect them,
But do not fear.

Verse 66

The humble and simple
Attract everyone.
The harsh and proud
Only meet resistance.

Humility holds power.

Verse 67

The best path
Is calm and simple.
Those who speak much
Fall into confusion.

True wisdom lies
In silence and simplicity.

Verse 68

Those who avoid fighting
Are truly victorious.
Those who show ego and power
Are unstable and fearful.

True strength is in humility.

Verse 69

The wise
Always harmonize with others,
Yet do not lose themselves.

They do not control others,
But guide them with ease.

Verse 70

Those who understand truth
Speak little.
Those who speak much
Are confused.

All things arise from Tao
And return to it.

Verse 71

The truly wise
Accept their flaws.
Those who point out flaws in others
Remain confused themselves.

Acceptance and humility hold wisdom.

Verse 72

The true leader
Does not instill fear.
Those who spread fear
Lose trust.

A quiet and simple path
Brings real stability.

Verse 73

Achieve goals without desire.
Those who want more
Increase fear and worry.

The content are free.

Verse 74

The true leader
Does not show power.
Those who display power
Are unstable and fearful.

Stability lies in humility.

Verse 75

People spread unrest,
Because of desire and ego.

Those who embrace contentment and peace
Remain steady and free.

Verse 76

Harshness and rigidity in life
Bring difficulty and ill will.

Those who are humble and flexible
Overcome all obstacles.

Verse 77

The Tao path is steady and simple.
Those who follow it find balance and peace.

Those who show force and ego
Remain unstable and confused.

Verse 78

True strength lies in humility.
The harsh break easily.
Those who are gentle and flexible
Remain steady through all difficulties.

Verse 79

People fight and wage war.
The wise try to prevent it,
But without desire or ego.

The path of truth and peace is lasting.

Verse 80

A simple and plain life is best.
Few possessions, little desire,
And more contentment.

Those who are content remain steady and free.

Verse 81

The true Tao path
Speaks little, acts much.
Those who understand it
Remain steady, calm, and balanced.

All things arise from Tao
And return to it.