Chapter 10

載營魄抱一，能無離乎？
專氣致柔，能嬰兒乎？
滌除玄覽，能無疵乎？
愛國治民，能無為乎？
天門開闔，能為雌乎？
明白四達，能無知乎？
生之畜之，生而不有，為而不恃，長而不宰，是謂玄德。

Bearing the soul and holding to the One, can they be kept from parting?
Gathering the breath until it is soft, can one be like an infant?
Washing and clearing the dark mirror, can it be left without a flaw?
Loving the state and governing the people, can one do it by doing nothing?
As the gates of heaven open and close, can one play the female?
Seeing clearly in all four directions, can one be without knowing?
To give birth and to nurture; to give life but not possess, to act but not presume, to raise but not rule: this is called dark virtue.