归元
原文
天下有始，以为天下母。既得1其母，以2知其子，既知其子，复守其母，没身3不殆。塞其兑，闭其门，终身不勤。开其兑，济其事，终身不救。见小曰明，守柔曰强。用其光，复归其明，无遗身殃；是为习常。
王弼注
天下有始，以为天下母。善始之则善养畜之矣，故天下有始则可以为天下母矣。既得1其母，以2知其子，既知其子，复守其母，没身3不殆。母，本也，子，末也。得本以知末，不舍本以逐末也。塞其兑，闭其门，兑，事欲之所由生；门，事欲之所由从也。终身不勤。无事永逸，故终身不勤也。开其兑，济其事，终身不救。不闭其原而济其事，故虽终身不救。见小曰明，守柔曰强。为治之功不在大，见大不明，见小乃明。守强不强，守柔乃强也。用其光，显道以去民迷。复归其明，不明察也。无遗身殃，是为习常。道之常也。 1. 得 : 原作“知”。据《古逸丛书》本、马王堆本改。 2. 以 : 原作“复”。据《古逸丛书》本、马王堆本改。 3. 身 : 原作“其”。据《古逸丛书》本、马王堆本改。
英文 · James Legge
(Returning to the source) (The Dao) which originated all under the sky is to be considered as the mother of them all. When the mother is found, we know what her children should be. When one knows that he is his mother's child, and proceeds to guard (the qualities of) the mother that belong to him, to the end of his life he will be free from all peril. Let him keep his mouth closed, and shut up the portals (of his nostrils), and all his life he will be exempt from laborious exertion. Let him keep his mouth open, and (spend his breath) in the promotion of his affairs, and all his life there will be no safety for him. The perception of what is small is (the secret of clear- sightedness; the guarding of what is soft and tender is (the secret of) strength. Who uses well his light, Reverting to its (source so) bright, Will from his body ward all blight, And hides the unchanging from men's sight. 1. 得 : Originally read: "知". 据《古逸丛书》本、马王堆本改。 2. 以 : Originally read: "复". 据《古逸丛书》本、马王堆本改。 3. 身 : Originally read: "其". 据《古逸丛书》本、马王堆本改。