天下有始，以為天下母。
既得其母，以知其子，既知其子，復守其母，沒身不殆。
塞其兌，閉其門，終身不勤。
開其兌，濟其事，終身不救。
見小曰明，守柔曰強。
用其光，復歸其明，無遺身殃；是為習常。
The beginning of the universe
Is the mother of all things.
Knowing the mother, one also knows the sons.
Knowing the sons, yet remaining in touch with the mother,
Brings freedom from the fear of death.
Keep your mouth shut,
Guard the senses,
And life is ever full.
Open your mouth,
Always be busy,
And live a life beyond hope.
Seeing the inferior is insight;
Yielding to force is a strength.
Using the outer light, return to insight,
And in this way be saved from harm.
This is learning constantly.
(Translated by Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English)

Tao is the beginning of the universe, the mother of all things. Since the mother who knows all things is the Tao, it naturally follows that all things in the world are children of the Tao. Since we know that all things in the world are children of the Tao, we must look back and guard our mothers and abide by this principle of keeping the roots forever. Then there will be no great danger.

Plug your senses, close the door to craving, and there will be no scourge of it in its lifetime. If the opposite path is chosen, it opens the aperture to put your life in danger. Those who can see the small are people who understand the Tao. Those who can keep and hold the weak will gain strength and are the real winners. When practicing to use light to gain enlightenment, you will be led to eternity.