第三十二章  知止不殆

道常无，名朴。虽小，天下莫能臣。侯王若能守之，万物将自宾。
天地相合，以降甘露，民莫之令而自均。始制有名，名亦既有，夫亦将知止，知止可以不殆。譬道之在天下，犹川谷之于江海。

Knowing When to Stop is to Avoid Dangers

The Tao will always be beyond comprehension. Although it seems trivial No one in all the world can control it.

If leaders would hold to it, the whole world would serve them spontaneously.

Heaven and Earth will be harmonized And send down sweet dew. Peace and order will reign among the people without any command from above.

When civilization arose, names began. With names, one should know when to stop. Knowing when to stop, frees one from danger.

All things end in the Tao as rivers flow into the sea.

 [译文]

道本源能量质朴而没有名称，他的本性纯朴自然，他虽然小不足见，但整个显现的宇宙万物都在它的显现转换中。侯王若能掌握持守此先天之道， 万物治理井然有序。宇宙间阴阳相和， 百姓将无须强加号令也会自然和谐均衡。道由无形的能量化生有名万物，有名部分也就是人类可以认知的。作为万物之灵的人亦要知晓有所为、而有所不为的天理，只有这样，才可以顺势而为，避开危险。

道在宇宙间，犹如江海，一切河川溪流都归源于它。