归根
原文
致虚极，守静笃。万物并作，吾以观复。夫物芸芸，各复归其根。归根曰静，是谓复命。复命曰常，知常曰明。不知常，妄作凶。知常容，容乃公，公乃王，王乃天，天乃道，道乃久，没身不殆。
王弼注
致虚极，守静笃。言致虚，物之极笃；守静，物之真正也。万物并作，动作生长。吾以观复。以虚静观其反复。凡有起于虚，动起于静，故万物虽并动作，卒复归于虚静，是物之极笃也。夫物芸芸，各复归其根。各反其所始也。归根曰静，是曰复命。复命曰常，归根则静，故曰静。静则复命，故曰复命也。复命则得性命之常，故曰常也。知常曰明。不知常，妄作凶。常之为物，不偏不彰，无皦昧之状，温凉之象，故曰知常曰明也。唯此复乃能包通万物，无所不容，失此以往，则邪入乎分，则物离其分，故曰不知常，则妄作凶也。知常容，无所不包通也。容乃公，无所不包通，则乃至于荡然公平也。公乃王，荡然公平，则乃至于无所不周普也。王乃天，无所不周普，则乃至于同乎天也。天乃道，与天合德，体道大通，则乃至于极虚无也。道乃久，穷极虚无，得道之常，则乃至于不有极也。没身不殆。无之为物，水火不能害，金石不能残。用之于心则虎兕无所投其齿角，兵戈无所容其锋刃，何危殆之有乎。
英文 · James Legge
(Returning to the root) The (state of) vacancy should be brought to the utmost degree, and that of stillness guarded with unwearying vigour. All things alike go through their processes of activity, and (then) we see them return (to their original state). When things (in the vegetable world) have displayed their luxuriant growth, we see each of them return to its root. This returning to their root is what we call the state of stillness; and that stillness may be called a reporting that they have fulfilled their appointed end. The report of that fulfilment is the regular, unchanging rule. To know that unchanging rule is to be intelligent; not to know it leads to wild movements and evil issues. The knowledge of that unchanging rule produces a (grand) capacity and forbearance, and that capacity and forbearance lead to a community (of feeling with all things). From this community of feeling comes a kingliness of character; and he who is king-like goes on to be heaven-like. In that likeness to heaven he possesses the Dao. Possessed of the Dao, he endures long; and to the end of his bodily life, is exempt from all danger of decay.