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。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。

Know the masculine, hold to the feminine, and become a channel for the world. Being the world's channel, eternal virtue does not depart, and one returns to the state of an infant. Know the white, hold to the black, and become the pattern for the world. Being the world's pattern, eternal virtue does not err, and one returns to the infinite. Know honor, hold to humility, and become the valley of the world. Being the world's valley, eternal virtue is sufficient, and one returns to simplicity. When simplicity is broken up, it becomes useful vessels. The sage employs them as officers. Therefore the great system does not cut apart.

白话译文

知道什么是刚强，却安守柔弱，甘做天下的溪流。甘做天下的溪流，永恒的德就不会离开，就能回归到婴儿般纯真的状态。知道什么是光明，却安守暗昧，甘做天下的模式。甘做天下的模式，永恒的德就不会有差错，就能回归到无穷无尽的境界。知道什么是荣耀，却安守卑辱，甘做天下的低谷。甘做天下的低谷，永恒的德就能充足，就能回归到朴实的本质。朴实的本质分散开来就成为各种器物，圣人运用它就成为百官之长。所以完善的制度是浑然一体的，不加割裂。

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