《道德经》英译（第二十八章）

知其雄，守其雌，为天下溪。为天下溪，常德不离，复归于婴儿。<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

知其白，守其黑，为天下式。为天下式，常德不忒，复归于无极。

知其荣，守其辱，为天下谷。为天下谷，常德乃足，复归于朴。

朴散则为器， 圣人用之，则为官长，故大制不割。

Chapter 28

He who knows the masculine and keeps to the feminine

Will become the ravine of the world.

Being the ravine of the world,

He will never depart from the constant De,

But return to the state of infancy.

He who knows glory but keeps to disgrace

Will become the valley of the world.

Being the valley of the world,

He will be proficient in the constant De

And return to the state of simplicity.

He who knows the white but keeps to the black

Will become the principle of the world.

Being the principle of the world,

He will possess the constant De

And return to the state of ultimate infinity.

(When simplicity is broken up,

It is turned into vessels.

By using these vessels,

The sage becomes the head of officials.

Hence a perfect government is not carved out of artificiality.)