《道德經第五章》

天地不仁，以萬物為芻狗；

聖人不仁，以百姓為芻狗。

天地之間，其猶橐籥乎？

虛而不屈，動而愈出。

多言數窮，不如守中。

Dao De jing Chapter Five ― Alan B. Taplow 5 NATURE

    Nature is impartial ―

    While regarding All Things of the universe as sacred,

    Graces them with equality.

    Likewise, the Sage is impartial ―

    While regarding all creatures as sacred,

    Graces them with equality.

    The universe ― a moving bellows ― Yin and Yang

    always emptying ― always full,

    Endlessly working ― endlessly yielding forth.

    Understanding the nature of the universe

    by words and by intellect,

    Leads to exhaustion.

    Hold instead to that intuition which,

    Rising from the gut of mankind,

    Resembles original nature.

Dao De jing Chapter Five ― James Legge (The use of emptiness)

Heaven and earth do not act from (the impulse of) any wish to be benevolent; they deal with all things as the dogs of grass are dealt with. The sages do not act from (any wish to be) benevolent; they deal with the people as the dogs of grass are dealt with. May not the space between heaven and earth be compared to a bellows?

'Tis emptied, yet it loses not its power;

'Tis moved again and sends forth air the more.

Much speech to swift exhaustion lead we see;

Your inner being guard, and keep it free.

Dao De jing Chapter Five ― Arthur Waley

Heaven and Earth are ruthless;

To them, the Ten Thousand things are but as straw dogs.

The Sage too is ruthless;

To him, the people are but as straw dogs.

Yet Heaven and Earth and all that lies between

Is like a bellows

In that it is empty, but gives a supply that never fails.

Work it, and more comes out.

Whereas the force of words is soon spent.

Far better is it to keep what is in the heart.