#Click on a sentence 1 2 Chapter 39 Chapter 41 Back to index #

Ch. 40 Sentence 1
Beck Returning is the movement of the Way. Gentleness is the method of the Way.
Blackney The movement of the Way is a return; In weakness lies its major usefulness.
Bynner Life on its way returns into a mist, Its quickness is its quietness again:
Byrn All movement returns to the Tao. Weakness is how the Tao works.
Chan Reversion is the action of Tao. Weakness is the function of Tao.
Cleary Return is the movement of the Way; yielding is the function of the Way.
Crowley The Dao proceeds by correlative curves, and its might is in weakness.
Hansen That which is converse is the action of a guide. That which is weak is the use of a guide.
LaFargue Turning Back is Tao movement being Weak is Tao practice.
Legge The movement of the Tao By contraries proceeds; And weakness marks the course Of Tao's mighty deeds.
Lindauer That which returns is tao moving That which lessens is tao using.
LinYutan Reversion is the action of Tao. Gentleness is the function of Tao.
Mabry Returning is the movement of the Tao. Yielding is the way of the Tao.
McDonald Reversion is the action of dao. In dao the only motion is a return; and the one useful quality is named soft [or polite] gentleness, So polite or weak gentleness [or humility] is the function of dao.
Merel The motion of the Way is to return; The use of the Way is to accept;
Mitchell Return is the movement of the Tao. Yielding is the way of the Tao.
Muller Return is the motion of the Tao. Softening is its function.
Red Pine The Tao moves the other way the Tao works through weakness
Ta-Kao Returning is the motion of Tao, Weakness is the appliance of Tao.
Walker Returning to the root is the movement of Tao. Quietness is how it functions.
Wieger Going back (towards the Principle) is the type of movement characteristic of those who conform themselves to the Principle. Attenuation is the result of their being conformed to the Principle.
World Manifesting and disintegrating is the activity of Infinity. Yielding to manifestations, yielding todisintegration is the nature of peace and harmony.
Wu The movement of the Tao consists in Returning. The use of the Tao consists in softness.

Ch. 40 Sentence 2
Beck All things in the world come from being, and being comes from non-being.
Blackney From What-is all the world of things was born But What-is sprang in turn from What-is-not.
Bynner Existence of this world of things and men Renews their needing to exist.
Byrn All of creation is born from substance. Substance is born of nothing-ness.
Chan All things in the world come from being. And being comes from non-being.
Cleary All things in the world are born of being; being is born of nonbeing.
Crowley All things arose from the De, and the De budded from the Dao.
Hansen The cosmos and the ten-thousand natural kinds arise from 'existing.' 'Existing' arises from 'non-existing.'
LaFargue "The thousands of things in the world are born of Being" Being is born of Nothing.
Legge All things under heaven sprang from It as existing (and named); that existence sprang from It as non-existent (and not named).
Lindauer The world, the 10000 things give birth in relation to presence Presence gives birth in relation to absence.
LinYutan The things of this world come from Being, And Being (comes) from Non-being.
Mabry All things in the world are born of existence. Existence is born of non-existence.
McDonald The creatures and things of this world come from being. And being from not-yet-being. though all
Merel All things come from the Way, And the Way comes from nothing.
Mitchell All things are born of being. Being is born of non-being.
Muller All things in the cosmos arise from being. Being arises from non-being.
Red Pine the things of this world come from something something comes from nothing
Ta-Kao All things in the Universe come from existence, And existence from non-existence.
Walker The ten thousand things are born of being. Being is born of nothing.
Wieger Considering all that exists is born of simple being, and that being is born of formless non-being, they tend, in diminishing themselves without cease, to go back to primordial simplicity.
World Things are manifested from the tangible. The tangible is manifested from the intangible.
Wu All things under heaven are born of the corporeal: The corporeal is born of the Incorporeal.