Do your utmost to be empty-minded
and hold fast to tranquillity.
All things grow,
I see them return to nature.
Multiple as things are,
they return to their root.
Their root is transquillity;
to return to it is their destiny.
To submit to one’s destiny is the rule;
to know the rule is wisdom.
Those who act against the rule
will harm themselves.
Those who understand will pardon,
and to pardon is justice.
Justice is perfects,
and perfection belongs to heaven.
Heaven is the divine law,
and the divine law is eternal.
Men may pass away, but the law will never.
致虚极，守静笃；万物并作，吾以观复。夫物芸芸，各复归其根。归根曰静，静曰复命。复命曰常，知常曰明。不知常，妄作凶。知常容，容乃公，公乃全，全乃天，天乃道，道乃久，没(mò）身不殆。
