5. Heaven and Earth
Text
English translation
Original Chinese text
天地不仁，以万物为刍狗；圣人不仁，以百姓为刍狗。
English translation
Heaven and earth show no partial kindness; they regard the ten thousand things as straw dogs. The sage shows no partial kindness; the people too are regarded as straw dogs.
“No partial kindness” does not mean cruelty. Straw dogs were honored for a ritual and set aside afterward; the image stresses impartiality rather than favoritism.
Original Chinese text
天地之间，其犹橐籥乎？
English translation
Is not the space between heaven and earth like a bellows?
A bellows is hollow inside, yet its movement produces a current of air. The image shows that emptiness can be the very space that makes action possible.
Original Chinese text
虚而不屈，动而愈出。
English translation
Empty, yet never exhausted; set in motion, it brings forth more and more.
Continuing the bellows image, its hollow center keeps it from being clogged, while movement releases its capacity. Emptiness and usefulness are not opposites.
Original Chinese text
多言数穷，不如守中。
English translation
Too many words soon run out; better to hold to the center.
“The center” continues the image of the bellows' open interior: keep room, avoid extremes, and do not let excessive speech exhaust clarity.