Laozi · Complete work
Chapter 34
Chapter 34 of 81. Read it here for reference, or continue through the entire work without leaving the reader.
Open the complete readerOriginal Classical Chinese
大道汎兮，其可左右。萬物恃之而生而不辭，功成不名有。衣養萬物而不為主，常無欲，可名於小；萬物歸焉，而不為主，可名為大。以其終不自為大，故能成其大。
Mouseia
Mouseia’s complete machine-assisted Musean translation, made directly from the original source for fidelity, modern clarity, beauty, symbolism, and structure.
The great Way flows everywhere—it may go left or right.The ten thousand things rely on it to live, and it turns none away; its work accomplished, it does not claim possession.It clothes and nourishes the ten thousand things yet does not act as their master; forever without desire, it may be named small.The ten thousand things return to it, yet it does not act as their master; it may be named great.Because to the end it never makes itself great, it can fulfill its greatness.
OpenTao
Complete CC BY 4.0 translation made directly from the received Chinese text; source line structure preserved.
The great Way floods everywhere, reaching left and right alike.All beings depend on it for life, and it turns none away; its work complete, it does not call them its own.It clothes and nourishes all beings without making itself their master. Always without desire, it may be called small;all beings return to it, yet still it does not make itself their master. It may be called great.Because, to the very end, it never claims greatness for itself, it can achieve greatness.
James Legge (1891)
Complete public-domain translation made directly from the original source text.
1. All-pervading is the Great Tao! It may be found on the left hand and on the right.
2. All things depend on it for their production, which it gives to them, not one refusing obedience to it. When its work is accomplished, it does not claim the name of having done it. It clothes all things as with a garment, and makes no assumption of being their lord;--it may be named in the smallest things. All things return (to their root and disappear), and do not know that it is it which presides over their doing so;--it may be named in the greatest things.
3. Hence the sage is able (in the same way) to accomplish his great achievements. It is through his not making himself great that he can accomplish them.