Chapter 48
"In pursuing the study of Tao there will be daily increase; in acting out the Tao when learned, there will be daily diminution.
This marks the characteristics of the two stages.
In the first the man appears to make rapid progress in learning and philosophy, and so cuts a figure before the world; in the second, he becomes simple, humble, self-effacing, and thus may be said to diminish.
When this diminution is still further diminished, he will arrive at a state of inaction, or quiescence.
There is nothing that cannot be done by inaction.
The Sage ever employs inaction in administering the Empire.
As for those who put themselves to trouble in the matter, they are inadequate to the task of government."
- Translated by Frederic Henry Balfour, 1884, Chapter 48
"By studying, every day one increases (useless and injurious particular notions, in one's memory);
By concentrating on the Principle, they are diminished every day.
Pushed to the limit, this diminution ends in non-action, (the consequence of the absence of particular ideas).
Now there is nothing that non-action (letting things go) cannot sort out.
It is through non-action that one wins the empire.
To act, in order to win it, results in failure."
- Translated by Derek Bryce, 1999, Chapter 48
"Bodily and mental distress is increased every day in the effort to get knowledge.
But this distress is daily diminished by the getting of Tao.
Do you continually curtail your effort till there be nothing left of it?
By non-action there is nothing which cannot be effected.
A man might, without the least distress, undertake the government of the world.
But those who distress themselves about governing the world are not fit for it."
- Translated by Walter Gorn Old, 1904, Chapter 48
"Striving for learning one gains a
daily addition,
Using the Tao there follows a
daily remission,
And as the work lessens and
lessens there comes a condition
Of nothing doing, when nothing is
left to do.
He who would take as his own all
the realm under heaven,
Accomplishes it when no trouble is
taken or given,
If trouble he use, by trouble
itself he is driven,
And unfitted thereby to take what
he seeks to pursue."
- Translated by Isaac Winter Heysinger, 1903, Chapter 48
- Translated by Isaac Winter Heysinger, 1903, Chapter 48
為學日益.
為道日損.
損之又損.
以至於無為.
無為而無不為.
取天下常以無事.
及其有事, 不足以取天下.
- Chinese characters, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 48
為道日損.
損之又損.
以至於無為.
無為而無不為.
取天下常以無事.
及其有事, 不足以取天下.
- Chinese characters, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 48
wei xue ri yi.
wei dao ri sun.
sun zhi you sun.
yi zhi yu wu wei.
wu wei er wu bu wei.
qu tian xia chang yi wu shi.
ji qi you shi, bu zu yi qu tian xia.
- Pinyin Romanization, Daodejing, Chapter 48
wei dao ri sun.
sun zhi you sun.
yi zhi yu wu wei.
wu wei er wu bu wei.
qu tian xia chang yi wu shi.
ji qi you shi, bu zu yi qu tian xia.
- Pinyin Romanization, Daodejing, Chapter 48
"A man anxious
for knowledge adds more to himself every minute;
A man acquiring life loses himself in it,
Has less and less to bear in mind,
Less and less to do,
Because life, he finds, is well inclined,
Including himself too.
Often a man sways the world like a wind
But not by deed;
And if there appear to you to be need
Of motion to sway it, it has left you behind."
- Translation by Witter Bynner, 1944, Chapter 48
A man acquiring life loses himself in it,
Has less and less to bear in mind,
Less and less to do,
Because life, he finds, is well inclined,
Including himself too.
Often a man sways the world like a wind
But not by deed;
And if there appear to you to be need
Of motion to sway it, it has left you behind."
- Translation by Witter Bynner, 1944, Chapter 48
The practice of Tao consists in “subtracting day by day,
Subtracting and yet again subtracting
Till one has reached inactivity.
But by this very inactivity
Everything can be activated.”
Those who of old won the adherence of all who live under heaven
All did so not interfering.
Had they interfered,
They would never have won this adherence."
- Translated by Arthur Waley, 1934, Chapter 48
cada día se adquiere algo.
Al buscar conocimiento mediante el Tao,
cada día hay que desprenderse de algo.
Desprendiendose de cada vez más
se llega al estado de la No-Interferencia.
Al No-Interferir
nada se deja sin hacer.
El mundo debe regirse dejando que las cosas fluyan.
Nada puede ser regido interfiriendo contra las cosas."
- Translation from Wikisource, 2013, Capitulo 48
"In pursuit of knowledge, every day something is added.
In the practice of the Tao, every day something is dropped.
Less and less do you need to force things, until finally you arrive at non-action.
When nothing is done, nothing is left undone.
True mastery can be gained by letting things go their own way.
It can't be gained by interfering."
- Translation by Stephen Mitchell, Chapter 48
Chapter and Thematic Index (Concordance) to the Tao Te Ching
Taoism: A Selected Reading List
Tao Te Ching English Language Corncordance by Gerold Claser. An excellent English language concordance providing terms, chapter and line references, and the proximal English language text. No Chinese language characters or Wade-Giles or Pinyin Romanizations. Based on the translation by John H. McDonald, available on the Internet in the public domain.
By Mark Singleton. New York, Oxford University Press, 2012. Index,
bibliography, notes, 262 pages. ISBN: 9780195395341. VSCL.
By Richard Rosen. Illustrations by Evan Yee. Boston, Shambhala,
2012. Index, bibliography, glossary, appendices, 286 pages. ISBN:
9781590308134. VSCL. 
