Chapter 5 of the Laozi

Chinese Text

天tiān地dì不bù仁rén, 以yǐ万wàn物wù为wéi刍chú狗gǒu; 圣shèng人rén不bù仁rén, 以yǐ百bǎi姓xìng为wéi刍chú狗gǒu.
天tiān地dì之zhī间jiān, 其qí犹yóu橐tuó龠yuè乎hū? 虚xū而ér不bù屈qū, 动dòng而ér愈yù出chū.
多duō言yán数shuò穷qióng, 不bù如rú守shǒu中zhōng.

Translation

Heaven and Earth are not partial. They treat all things as straw dogs (for sacrifice).
The Sage is not partial; he treats all people as straw dogs (for sacrifice).
The space between Heaven and Earth is like a bellows: empty yet inexhaustible, the more it moves, the more it produces.
Those who talk too much (about the Dao) often come to silence.
It is better to hold to the center.

Notes

E: The word 仁rén (commonly "humanity") here means "to love with partial and particular affection."

苏子由Sū Zǐyóu: Heaven (天tiān) and Earth (地dì) are not partial. They let all beings follow their natural impulses. That is why all creatures are born and die of their own accord. If they die, it is not due to tyranny; if they are born, it is not due to partial affection. Similarly, when a straw dog is made and placed before the altar for sacrifice, it is adorned with the richest ornaments to ward off misfortune (sic 严君平Yán Jūnping); is this out of affection? It is the result of circumstance. When it is discarded after the sacrifice, passersby trample it underfoot. Is this out of hatred? It is also the result of circumstance.

E: Such is the virtue (德dé) of Heaven (天tiān) and Earth (地dì): they are greatly just to all and have no partial affection. They let creatures produce and transform themselves. The Sage (圣人shèngrén) acts likewise toward the people. This passage means that one who is greatly benevolent and affectionate to all is benevolent and affectionate to no one in particular.

E: Between Heaven (天tiān) and Earth (地dì), there is a supremely divine being. This passage has received two interpretations. One commentator (E) relates the words 虚而不屈xū ér bù qū, 动而愈出dòng ér yù chū to the 道Dào; in this case, it must be translated as: "(This being, that is, the 道Dào) is empty and inexhaustible; the more it moves, the more it manifests itself."

All other commentators relate these eight words to the bellows (橐龠tuó yuè), and they translate: "It is empty and inexhaustible; the more it is moved, the more it produces wind (风fēng)."

E: Such is the essence of the 道Dào. It is impossible to exhaust it with words. If you try to explain it with words, the more you multiply them, the more you will be reduced to absolute silence (lit. "you will reach the height of exhaustion"). But if you forget words (if you renounce words) and hold to the center (that is, if you observe 无为wúwéi), you will not be far from the 道Dào.