← Table of contents Tao Te Ching illustration
拥抱大象,
Yōng bào dà xiàng,
Embrace the great symbol,
天下归往。
Tiān xià guī wǎng.
And the world will come to you.
往来无害,
Wǎng lái wú hài,
They come and go without harm,
安定平和。
Ān dìng píng hé.
In stability and peace.
音乐与美食,
Yīn yuè yǔ měi shí,
Music and good food,
过路的旅人驻足片刻。
Guò lù de lǚ rén zhù zú piàn kè.
Make passing travelers stop for a moment.
道之出言,
Dào zhī chū yán,
Words of Dao,
寡味如水。
Guǎ wèi rú shuǐ.
Are tasteless like water.
看之见不到,
Kàn zhī jiàn bù dào,
Invisible to the eye,
听之闻不到,
Tīng zhī wén bù dào,
Inaudible to the ear,
用之无穷尽。
Yòng zhī wú qióng jìn.
Yet inexhaustible in use.