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Bad fortune is what good fortune leans on。
Good fortune is what bad fortune hides in。
Who may know the acme of either？
Since there is no normal condition； the correct reverts to what is bizarre and the good reverts to what spells evil； but people indeed are deluded for a long time。
Therefore the Saint is square without being pointed； he is straight without being stretched； he is bright without being polished。
59
For governing men and serving heaven nothing is equal to moderation。
Just because there is moderation； this means applying oneself early （to the Way）。
To apply oneself early is to garner a double （harvest of） Virtue； there is not a thing of which one is not capable； nobody knows the extreme limit （of that capacity）。 If nobody knows the extreme limit； one may possess a kingdom。 The 〃mother〃 of possessing a kingdom may endure long。
This means that a deep root and a firm foundation are the way to long life and durability。
60
Ruling a great state is like cooking a small fish。
If one governs All…under…heaven according to the Way； the manes （of the dead） will not manifest themselves as spirits。 It is not that these manes are not spirits； but these spirits will not harm men。 Just as the spirits will not harm men； the Saint will not harm the people。
If indeed these two do not harm one another； their Virtue will converge towards a common end。
61
A great state is downstream。 It is the converging point （of the water） of All…under…heaven。 It is the female of All…under…heaven。 The female always overcomes the male by stillness； by stillness she is underneath。
Therefore； by getting beneath a little state； a great state gains a little one； and by abasing itself to a great state； a little state gains a big one。 The one gains by becoming low； the other by being low。 A great state only wishes to unite men and feed them； a little state only wishes to be received and to serve others。 So that each shall get what is wishes； the great must become low。
62
The Way for the ten thousand things is like the southwest corner of the house。
It is the treasure of the good and the refuge of the not…good。
Fine words may buy honours； fine conduct may raise one above others。
Therefore； when the Son of Heaven is inaugurated or the Three Ducal Ministers are installed； though they may hold a jade disk and are preceded by a chariot and four； it would be better for them to sit still and make progress in the Way。
Why did the ancients prize this Way so highly？ Did they not say： 〃he who seeks； finds by it； he who trespasses； escapes by it〃？
Therefore it was the most prized in All…under…heaven。
63
Do by not doing； act by nonacting； taste the taste…less； regard the small as great； much as little。
Plan what is difficult where it is easy； do what is great where it is minute。
The hardest things in the world begin with what is easy； the greatest things in the world begin with what is minute。
Therefore the Saint never does anything great and so is able to achieve the great。
Now； he who promises lightly； will have but little faith。 He who finds much easy； will find much hard。
Therefore the Saint； while finding even （the easy） hard； will in the end have nothing that is hard。
64
What is at rest is easy to hold。
What is not yet manifested is easy to forestall。
What is brittle is easy to melt。
What is minute is easy to disperse。
Act before a thing is there； create order before there is disorder。
A tree of an arm's span has grown from a tiny fibre。
A tower nine storeys high was raised from a heap of earth。
A journey of a thousand leagues started with what was under a footsole。
In promoting their affairs men often spoil them when they are about to succeed。
Heed the end as much as the beginning； then no affairs will be spoiled。
Therefore the Saint desires not to desire and does not prize goods that are difficult to obtain。 He learns not to learn and reverts to what all men pass by。
Thus he sustains the natural course of the ten thousand thing； but he dares not act。
65
Of old those who were well versed in the practice of the Way； rather than use it to enlighten the people； they used it to stultify the people。
If people are hard to rule； it is because of too much knowledge。
Therefore he who rules a state by means of knowledge； is like a robber of the state。 He who will not rule a state by means of knowledge； is a boon for the state。
He who knows these two things； scrutinizes also the Measure。
Always to know how to scrutinize the Measure is called Mystic Virtue。 Mystic Virtue is profound； is far…reaching； and operates contrariwise to things； till in the end it attains the Grand Conformity。
66
That by which the River and the sea are able to be kings of the hundred valleys； is their fitness to be lower than these。 That is why they are able to be the kings of the hundred valleys。
Therefore； if a Saint wishes to be above the people； he should； in his words； be lower。 If he wishes to be in front of the people； he should in his person； be behind。
Therefore the Saint stays above but the people do not feel his weight； he stays in front but the people do not feel it as an injury。
Therefore All…under…heaven will gladly push him forward and will not weary （of him）； Because he strives not； none are able to strive with him。
67
All the world says that my Way； though great； seems unconventional。
Indeed； just because it is great； it seems unconventional。 If it were unconventional； it would long ago have become minute。
I have three treasures which I hold and preserve。
The first is forbearance。
The second is moderation。
The third is not daring to be first in the world。
Having forbearance； I am able to be courageous。
Having moderation； I am able to be liberal。
Not daring to be first in the world； I am able to become the chief of all the 〃vessels〃。
If to…day one rejects forbearance but is only courageous； if one rejects moderation but is only liberal； if one rejects being last but is only first； it is death！
Truly； he who fights with forbearance； conquers； he who guards himself with it is safe。
Him； whom heaven would save； it protects with forbearance。
68
A good captain is not impetuous。
A good fighter is not angry。
A good conqueror does not engage his adversaries。
A good user of men makes himself inferior to them。
This may be called the Virtue of not striving。 This may be called the strength to use men。 This may be called the acme of conformity to heaven。
69
A strategist of old has said：
〃I dare not be host； I prefer being guest。 I dare not advance one inch； I prefer withdrawing one foot。〃
This is called： to march without marching； to roll up one's sleeves without having an arm； to draw without having a sword； to attack without having an adversary。
There is no greater calamity than underestimating one's adversary。
If I underestimate my adversary； I risk losing my treasu