Chapter 37

1. The Tao in its regular course does nothing (for the sake of doing it), and so there is nothing which it does not do.

2. If princes and kings were able to maintain it, all things would of themselves be transformed by them.

3. If this transformation¹ became to me an object of desire, I would express the desire by the nameless simplicity².

Simplicity without a name
Is free from all external aim.
With no desire, at rest and still,
All things go right as of their will.

       道常无为而无不为。
       侯王若能守之，万物将自化。
       化而欲作，吾将镇之以无名之朴。
       镇之以无名之朴，夫将不欲。
       不欲以静，天下将自正。

【译文】
       道通常什么也不成为，又什么都可以成为。侯王若能体守它，各类矛盾纠结就会自然销化。销化之后如果产生了某种整体性的犟执趋求，我就斩断这种趋求而使它回复到混沌态。使它回复到混沌态，它就不会有什么犟执性的趋求。没有犟执性的趋求而静定，天下就自然地平息动荡摇摆而没有偏倒倾覆的危险了。

1 transformation   

n.变化；改造；转变

参考例句：

• Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
• He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。

2 simplicity   

n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯

参考例句：

• She dressed with elegant simplicity.她穿着朴素高雅。
• The beauty of this plan is its simplicity.简明扼要是这个计划的一大特点。