道德經第五十四章

善建不拔，善抱者不脫，子孫以祭祀不輟。
修之於身，其德乃真；
修之於家，其德乃餘；
修之於鄉，其德乃長；
修之於國，其德乃豐；
修之於天下，其德乃普。
故以身觀身，以家觀家，以鄉觀鄉，以國觀國，以天下觀天下。
吾何以知天下然哉？以此。

Dao De Jing Chapter 54 一 A. Charles Muller 54. The well-established cannot be uprooted...

The well-established cannot be uprooted.

The well-grasped does not slip away.

Generation after generation carries out the ancestor worship without break.

Cultivate it in yourself and virtue will be real.

Cultivate it in the family and virtue will overflow.

Cultivate it in the town and virtue will be great.

Cultivate it in the country and virtue will be abundant.

Cultivate it in the world and virtue will be everywhere.

Therefore, take yourself and observe yourself.

Take the family and observe the family.

Take the town and observe the town.

Take the country and observe the country.

Take the world and observe the world.

How do I know the world as it is?

By this 

Dao De Jing Chapter 54 一 Arthur Waley

What Tao plants cannot be plucked,

What Tao clasps, cannot slip.

By its virtue alone can one generation after another carry on the ancestral sacrifice.

Apply it to yourself and by its power, you will be freed from dross.

Apply it to your household and your household shall thereby have abundance.

Apply it to the village, and the village will be made secure.

Apply it to the kingdom, and the kingdom shall thereby be made to flourish.

Apply it to an empire, and the empire shall thereby be extended.

Therefore just as through oneself, one may contemplate Oneself,

So through the household one may contemplate the Household,

And through the village, one may contemplate the Village,

And through the kingdom, one may contemplate the Kingdom,

And through the empire, one may contemplate the Empire.

How do I know that the empire is so?

By this.

Dao De Jing Chapter 54 一 James Legge, The cultivation (of the Dao), and the observation (of its effects)

What (Dao's) skilful planter plants

Can never be uptorn;

What his skilful arms enfold,

From him can never be borne.

Sons shall bring in lengthening line,

Sacrifices to his shrine.

Dao when nursed within one's self,

His vigour will make true;

And where the family it rules

What riches will accrue!

The neighbourhood where it prevails

In thriving will abound;

And when 'tis seen throughout the state,

Good fortune will be found.

Employ it the kingdom o'er,

And men thrive all around.

In this way, the effect will be seen in the person, by the observation of different cases; in the family; in the neighbourhood; in the state; and in the kingdom.

How do I know that this effect is sure to hold thus all under the sky? By this (method of observation).