老子《道德经》：
天地不仁，以万物为刍狗；圣人不仁，以百姓为刍狗。
译文：
天地不仁，对万物就像对待刍狗一样；圣人不仁，对百姓也像对待刍狗一样。
（刍狗：指用草扎成的狗，用在祭祀的场合。）
Nature is unkind:
It treats the creation like sacrificial straw-dogs.
The Sage is unkind:
He treats the people like sacrificial straw-dogs.
或：
Heaven and earth do not act from (the impulse of) any wish to be benevolent; they deal with all things as the dogs of grass are dealt with. The sages do not act from (any wish to be) benevolent; they deal with the people as the dogs of grass are dealt with.
原文：
天地不仁，以万物为刍狗；圣人不仁，以百姓为刍狗。天地之间，其犹橐籥乎？虚而不屈，动而愈出。多言数穷，不如守中。
译文：
天地不仁，对万物就像对待刍狗一样；圣人不仁，对百姓也像对待刍狗一样。天地不正像风箱一样吗？它是空虚的，而它蕴藏的风却无穷无尽，越动风量越大。多说话，常常失败，还不如保持虚静。
林语堂译：
Nature is unkind:
It treats the creation like sacrificial straw-dogs.
The Sage is unkind:
He treats the people like sacrificial straw-dogs.
How the universe is like a bellows!
Empty, yet it gives a supply that never fails;
The more it is worked, the more it brings forth.
By many words is wit exhausted.
Rather, therefore, hold to the core.
J Legge 译：
Heaven and earth do not act from (the impulse of) any wish to be benevolent; they deal with all things as the dogs of grass are dealt with. The sages do not act from (any wish to be) benevolent; they deal with the people as the dogs of grass are dealt with.
May not the space between heaven and earth be compared to a bellows?
‘Tis emptied, yet it loses not its power;
‘Tis moved again, and sends forth air the more.
Much speech to swift exhaustion lead we see;
Your inner being guard, and keep it free.
