DIANJI · 典籍
Tao Te Ching · Chapter 45
A source-aware reading page for Tao Te Ching chapter 45.
Read Tao Te Ching chapter 45 with the Chinese text, Wang Bi and Heshang Gong commentary, Legge's 1891 translation, and source notes.
Chinese text
大成若缺，其用不弊。
大盈若沖，其用不窮。
大直若屈，其用不居。
大巧若拙，其用不輟。
大辯若訥，其用不差。
躁勝寒，靜勝熱。清靜為天下正。
English support translation
Who thinks his great achievements poor
Shall find his vigour long endure.
Of greatest fulness, deemed a void,
Exhaustion ne'er shall stem the tide.
Do thou what's straight still crooked deem;
Thy greatest art still stupid seem,
And eloquence a stammering scream.
Constant action overcomes cold; being still overcomes heat. Purity
and stillness give the correct law to all under heaven.