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Section 1

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道可道，非常道。
Dào kě dào, fēi cháng dào.
 The Dao that can be expressed is not the eternal Dao.
名可名，非常名。
Míng kě míng, fēi cháng míng.
 The name that can be named is not the eternal name.
无名天地之始；
Wú míng tiān dì zhī shǐ;
 The nameless is the origin of heaven and earth;
有名万物之母。
Yǒu míng wàn wù zhī mǔ.
 The named is the mother of all things.
故常无欲，以观其妙；
Gù cháng wú yù, yǐ guān qí miào;
 Free from desire, you perceive the mystery;
常有欲，以观其徼。
Cháng yǒu yù, yǐ guān qí jiào.
 Bound by desire, you see only the manifestations.
此两者，
Cǐ liǎng zhě,
 These two emerge from the same source,
同出而异名，
Tóng chū ér yì míng,
 But are different in name.
同谓之玄。
Tóng wèi zhī xuán.
 Both are called profound.
玄之又玄，
Xuán zhī yòu xuán,
 Profound within profound,
众妙之门。
Zhòng miào zhī mén.
 The gateway to all wonders.