1. all the world says that, while my tao is great, it yet appears to be inferior (to other systems of teaching). now it is just its greatness that makes it seem to be inferior. if it were like any other (system), for long would its smallness have been known!

2. but i have three precious things which i prize and hold fast. the first is gentleness; the second is economy; and the third is shrinking from taking precedence of others.

3. with that gentleness i can be bold; with that economy i can be liberal; shrinking from taking precedence of others, i can become a vessel of the highest honour. now-a-days they give up gentleness and are all for being bold; economy, and are all for being liberal; the hindmost place, and seek only to be foremost;--(of all which the end is) death.

4. gentleness is sure to be victorious even in battle, and firmly to maintain its ground. heaven will save its possessor, by his (very) gentleness protecting him.

天下皆谓我道大，似不肖。

夫唯大，故似不肖。

若肖，久矣其细也夫！

我有三宝，持而保之：

一曰慈；二曰俭；三曰不敢为天下先。

慈，故能勇；俭，故能广；不敢为天下先，故能成器长。

今舍其慈，且勇；舍其俭，且广；舍其后，且先，死矣。

夫慈，以战则胜，以守则固。

天将救之，以慈卫之。

【译文】

天下人都说我所说的道太过普泛了，很难加以具体把握。要知道，正因为它是普泛的行为规范，所以才不象具体旅途的具体准则；如果针对具体旅途作具体论述，它早就琐碎不堪了。我有三条基本的行为原则，把持它以保证大道得以贯彻执行：第一是柔慈；第二是俭约；第三是不与天下争得利之先。保持柔慈，就能全力以赴；保持俭约，就能行走于广阔的天地；不与天下争得利之先，就能成为群体的首领。如果舍弃柔慈而妄逞勇武，舍弃俭约而行广，舍弃谦让而争先，那就死定了。保持柔慈，投入战争就能取得胜利，用于防守就能巩固。对于慈者，整个自然环境都会救助他，因为慈在守护着他。