Laozi · Complete work
Chapter 43
Chapter 43 of 81. Read it here for reference, or continue through the entire work without leaving the reader.
Open the complete readerOriginal Classical Chinese
天下之至柔，馳騁天下之至堅。無有入無間，吾是以知無為之有益。不言之教，無為之益，天下希及之。
Mouseia
Mouseia’s complete machine-assisted Musean translation, made directly from the original source for fidelity, modern clarity, beauty, symbolism, and structure.
The softest thing under heaven gallops through the hardest thing under heaven.What has no being enters where there is no space; by this I know the benefit of non-action.Teaching without words, the benefit of non-action—few under heaven attain them.
OpenTao
Complete CC BY 4.0 translation made directly from the received Chinese text; source line structure preserved.
The softest thing in the world ranges freely through the hardest.What has no substance enters where there is no seam; from this I know the benefit of acting without forcing.Teaching without words, the benefit of action without forcing—few in the world ever attain them.
James Legge (1891)
Complete public-domain translation made directly from the original source text.
1. The softest thing in the world dashes against and overcomes the hardest; that which has no (substantial) existence enters where there is no crevice. I know hereby what advantage belongs to doing nothing (with a purpose).
2. There are few in the world who attain to the teaching without words, and the advantage arising from non-action.