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64
The stabilized is easy to grasp。
The not…yet…begun is easy to plan for。
The brittle is easy to break。
The tiny is easy to scatter。
Act upon it while it does not yet exist。
Govern it while it is not yet chaotic。
The tree ＇as thick as＇ joined arms embraced
Comes into existence at an insignificant height。
The platform of nine stories is built by piling up dirt。
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a ＇single＇ step。
Those who contrive； ruin them。
Those who grasp； lose them。
Therefore； the sages
Do not contrive and therefore do not ruin。
Do not grasp and therefore do not lose。
The undertakings of the people：
＇They see＇ matters frequently ＇through＇ to near…completion
But ruin them ＇toward the end＇。
Act with care in the end just as in the beginning
＇And you＇ will not ruin the matter。
Therefore； the sages
Desire not to desire
And do not value goods that are hard to get。
Learning 搖n…learning？br》 They return to the place the masses of people have ＇all＇ passed by。
Therefore； they assist the true natures of the ten…thousand things
And do not dare to contrive。
65
Those of old who were good at governing ＇with＇ the Tao
Did not thereby enlighten the people。
＇That＇ would thereby cheat them。
The difficulty of people to govern
Is because of their excessive cleverness。
Therefore； to use cleverness to govern the kingdom
Is ＇to be＇ a thief to the kingdom。
Not to use cleverness to govern the kingdom
Is ＇to be＇ a blessing to the kingdom。
Those who understand these both
Also examine the System。
Always understanding and examining the System
Is called Mystic Virtue。
Mystic Virtue is mysterious！
Profound！
It grants counter…intuitive things！
Then ＇you＇ are truly indeed
The utmost and greatest comfort ＇to your people＇。
66
Those who are ＇in＇ the position where the large rivers ＇meet＇ the sea
Can thereby become the king of the hundred mountain streams。
Because they are skilled at humbling themselves
Is the reason they can become the king of the hundred mountain streams。
Therefore； the sages
Wishing to be above people
Must ＇do so＇ by means of speaking humbly to them。
Wishing to be first ＇among＇ people
Must ＇do so＇ by means of ＇placing＇ themselves behind them。
Therefore； the sages
Are placed on top； and the people are not burdened。
Placed in front； and the people are not harmed。
Therefore； the world is glad to push ＇them＇ forward
And does not get tired ＇of them＇。
Because they do not contend
Is the reason no one in the world
Is able to contend with them。
67
Everyone in the world calls my Tao 揼reat？br》 As if nothing resembled it。
Precisely because it is great
Is the reason it seems that nothing resembles it。
Supposing it resembled ＇something＇？br》 Long…standing indeed its pettiness would be ＇for＇ man！
I have three treasures。
Keep and protect them。
The first is called 搈otherly love？br》 The second is called 搈eagerness？br》 The third is called 搉ot daring to be foremost in the world。？br》
Motherly love is the reason I can be brave。
Meagerness is the reason I can be expansive。
Not daring to be foremost in the world
Is the reason I can achieve magnanimous leadership。
To desist today from motherly love and so also bravery
From meagerness and so also expansiveness
From being behind and so also being in front？br》
Is Death indeed。
Those fighting by means of motherly love
Are necessarily victorious
Because ＇their＇ defense is completely solid。
Heaven will help them
And
With motherly love
Protect them。
68
Those who are skilled at being warriors are not warlike。
Those who are skilled at fighting are not angry。
Those who are skilled at overcoming enemies do not engage ＇them＇。
Those who are skilled at managing people act humbly toward them。
This is called the virtue of non…contention。
This is called the power of managing people。
This is called merging with Heaven； the Oldest of Old。
69
＇About＇ using soldiers； there exists a saying：
揥e dare not act as lords but rather as guests。
＇We＇ do not dare to advance an inch but rather retreat a foot。？br》
This is called
Prevailing without prevailing
Repelling without an arm
Throwing ＇them＇ out without resisting ＇them＇
Holding ＇them＇ without a fight。
There is no misfortune greater than trivializing an enemy。
＇If we＇ trivialize an enemy； how many funerals ＇will be＇ our 搑eward？
Therefore
＇When＇ opposing armies clash with each
Those who mourn are in fact the winners。
70
My words are very easy to understand。
Very easy to practice。
There are none in the world who can understand ＇them＇。
None who can practice ＇them＇。
Words have an ancestor。
Affairs have a sovereign。
Precisely because one does not understand ＇this＇
Is the reason one does not understand me。
Those who understand me are rare。
Those who follow me are prized。
Therefore； the sages
Are covered in coarse cloth
＇But carry in their＇ bosoms a jewel。
71
Knowing 搉o…knowing？is best。
Not to know ＇this＇ 搆nowing？is a fault。
Only those who take faults to be faults
Are therefore without fault。
The sages are without fault
For they take faults to be faults。
Only those who take faults to be faults
Are therefore without fault。
72
The people do not fear might
That imitates the Great Might to the extreme。
Do not disrespect their dwelling places。
Do not hate their homelands。
It is only because one does not hate
That one is therefore not hated。
Therefore； the sages
Know themselves but do not display themselves。
Are kind to themselves but do not prize themselves。
Thus； leave that and take up this。
73
The fearless in daring are necessarily killed。
The fearless in not…daring necessarily survive。
Those who are of these two ＇types＇：
Some are benefited。
Some are harmed。
That which is detested by Heaven梬ho knows the reason？
The Tao of Heaven does not struggle but is good at winning。
Does not speak but is good at responding。
Is not summoned but returns of itself。
Is simple like this but is good at planning。
Heaven抯 net is immensely vast。
Lax。
But nothing slips through。
74
People do not fear death
＇But＇ how can ＇one possibly＇ endure
＇If one＇ uses death to frighten them？
Suppose the people are made ever to fear death
And that those who act out of the ordinary
I seize； detain； and kill。
Who would dare ＇to do this＇？
Frequently； there those chief executioners who are killed。
Those who take the place of the chief executioners are ＇also＇ killed。
This is called usur