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Tao Te Ching - Lao Tzu - chapter 4

The Tao is an empty vessel; it is used, but never filled.
Oh, unfathomable source of ten thousand things!
Blunt the sharpness,
Untangle the knot,
Soften the glare,
Merge with dust.
Oh, hidden deep but ever present!
I do not know from whence it comes.
It is the forefather of the emperors.


(translation by Gia-fu Feng and Jane English)

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Tao Te Ching home page    |    chapter 3    |    chapter 5

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