Line by Line - Verse 55, Line 1

He who has in himself abundantly the attributes (of the Tao) is like an infant.
~ James Legge translation, from The Sacred Books of the East, 1891 ~

He who is filled with Virtue is like a newborn child.
~ Gia-fu Feng and Jane English translation, published by Vintage Books, 1989 ~

Those who hold an abundance of virtue
Are similar to newborn infants
~ Derek Lin translation, from Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained, published by SkyLight Paths, 2006 ~

A person filled with the power of Tao
is like a baby boy:
~ Ron Hogan rendition, from Beatrice.com, 2004 ~

Have you ever noticed how most of the world's religions and philosophies makes use of the metaphor of an infant to signify pureness? John Lash has this to say about this line.

To the child, the world is Oneness. The child sees no separation between himself and his mother or between himself and the toy he holds in his hand. Everything he touches becomes an extension of himself.

When we feel at one with the world, how can we not be filled with supreme virtue?

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