第 5 章 / 共 81 章
虚用
天地不仁，以萬物為芻狗；聖人不仁，以百姓為芻狗。
天地之間，其猶橐籰乎？虛而不屈，動而愈出。
多言數窮，不如守中。
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.