Chapter 34 Dyer
The great way is universal.
It can apply to the left or the right.
All beings depend on it for life.
Even so, it does not take possession of them.
It accomplishes its purpose but makes no claim for itself.
It covers all creatures like the sky, but does not nominate them.
All things return to it as to their home but it does not lord it over them.
Thus it may be called great.
The sage imitates this conduct.
By not claiming greatness, the sage achieves greatness.
Chapter 34 Henricks
1. The Way floats and drifts;
2. It can go left or right.
3. It accomplishes its tasks and completes its affairs, and yet for this it is not given a name.
4. The ten thousand things entrust their lives to it, and yet it does not act as their master.
5. Thus it is constantly without desires.
6. It can be named with the things that are small.
7. The ten thousand things entrust their lives to it, and yet it does not not act as their master.
8. It can be named with the things that are great.
9. Therefore the Sage's ability to accomplish the great
10. Comes from his not playing the role of the great.
11. Therefore he is able to accomplish the great.
Chapter 34 Lau
The way is broad, reaching left as well as right.
The myriad creatures depend on it for life yet it claims no authority.
It accomplishes its task yet lays claim to no merit.
It clothes and feeds the myriad creatures yet lays no claim to being their master.
For ever free of desire, it can be called small;
Yet as it lays no claim to being master when the myriad creatures turn to it, it can be called great.
It is because it never attempts itself to become great that it succeeds in becoming great.
Chapter 34 Wu
The Great Tao is universal like a flood.
How can it be turned to the right or to the left?
All creatures depend on it,
And it denies nothing to anyone.
It does its work,
But it makes no claims for itself.
It clothes and feeds all,
But it does not lord it over them:
Thus, it may be called "the Little."
All things return to it as to their home,
But it does not lord it over them:
Thus, it may be called "the Great."
It is just because it does not wish to be great
That its greatness is fully realised.