Laozi · Complete work
Chapter 37
Chapter 37 of 81. Read it here for reference, or continue through the entire work without leaving the reader.
Open the complete readerOriginal Classical Chinese
道常無為而無不為。侯王若能守之，萬物將自化。化而欲作，吾將鎮之以無名之樸。無名之樸，夫亦將無欲。不欲以靜，天下將自定。
Mouseia
Mouseia’s complete machine-assisted Musean translation, made directly from the original source for fidelity, modern clarity, beauty, symbolism, and structure.
The Way forever acts without acting, yet nothing is left undone.If lords and kings could hold to it, the ten thousand things would transform of themselves.If, in transforming, desire arose, I would settle it with the nameless uncarved block.The nameless uncarved block would in turn bring freedom from desire.Without desire, through stillness, all under heaven would settle of itself.
OpenTao
Complete CC BY 4.0 translation made directly from the received Chinese text; source line structure preserved.
The Way never forces, yet nothing is left undone.If lords and kings could hold to it, all things would transform on their own.If desire arose during this transformation, I would calm it with the nameless uncarved block.The nameless uncarved block would leave them, too, free of desire.Free of desire, they would grow still, and all under heaven would settle of itself.
James Legge (1891)
Complete public-domain translation made directly from the original source text.
1. The Tao in its regular course does nothing (for the sake of doing it), and so there is nothing which it does not do.
2. If princes and kings were able to maintain it, all things would of themselves be transformed by them.
3. If this transformation became to me an object of desire, I would express the desire by the nameless simplicity.
Simplicity without a nameIs free from all external aim.With no desire, at rest and still,All things go right as of their will.