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haslittle； will receive in plenty。 Who has much； will be deprived。 The Sageembraces the All and becomes the Idol of the World。 He does not look outfor himself； and thus he glories。 He does not please himself； and thusthe world possesses him。 He does not flaunt his accomplishments； and thusthe world venerates him。 He strives not to be on top； thus he will be elevated。He does not attack； and the world around him is still。 Truly： Everythingflows freely into the seeker of perfection。？br》
23
To speak sparingly is the natural course。 A whirlwind lasts not throughoutthe morning。 A spray rain lasts not the day。 Such it is between heavenand earth。 And such it is with man。 Who dedicates himself to reason willbecome one with reason。 Who dedicates himself to virtue； will become onewith virtue。 Who gives to evil will become one with evil。 Who is one withreason； will be embraced by reason。 Who is one with virtue； will be embracedby virtue。 Who joins evil will be one with evil。 Who has no faith； willnever inspire faith。？br》
24
No one can stand solid when on his toes。 No one can run with spreadlegs。 Who admires himself will not be venerated。 Who is pleased with oneself；the world will not praise。 Who praises himself； merits little appreciation。Who pushes for the top； will not be elevated。 For the Spirit he is a leftover；an odd growth on the body。 The people will look upon him in disdain； Andthose who live by reason will not emulate his like。？br》
25
There is a Being of Perfection； incomprehensible。 It ever was； stilland formless； before they came； stars and earth。 Unchangeable and alone；unencumbered； whirling thru Time。 I name it； Creative Nature。 It has noname； shall I call it Tao； the Spirit？ Or the substance； the infinite？The infinite in unlimited attributes？ The great Distant； that forever returns！Tao is great； the Heavens are great。 The Universe is great。 May the rulerbe in tune with the Spirit。 Four things are great in the world； May theruler be one of them。 Man is under the law of the earth； the earth underthe law of the Universe； The universe under the law of Tao and Tao is theLaw itself。
26
燬erenity is wiser than superficiality； dignity is master of turbulence。The sage does not step off the path of serenity。 He is not distracted byunruly passions； angered in contemplation nothing can perturb him。 Woe；if the ruler of the land considers himself more important than the realm。His follower loses； who succumbs to frivolity； His dominance loses； whois driven by passions。？br》
27
An experienced wanderer needs neither guideposts nor paths。 A goodmathematician needs no counting board。 A good orator needs no false arguments。A good locksmith needs no key。 The Sage is a good helper of man and neverdespairs。 Such is his enlightenment。 The Sage is the teacher of the confused；and values his pupil。 Who does not honor his teacher； Who does not valuehis pupil； lacks wisdom in spite of his knowledge。 Such is true Spirituality。？br》
28
Whoever is manly and strong； yet gentle of deeds； becomes the streamof the world； remains in steadfast virtue and returns to nature like achild。 Whoever feels in himself the Light and fights Darkness becomes asymbol for the World。 Whoever becomes a symbol for the world； steadfastin virtue； returns to the very substance of Being。 Whoever feels his ownHeight still lives in humility； becomes like a fertile valley。 Whoeverbecomes a valley of the world； is of eternal virtue and returns to thevery substance of Being。 Man is like uncut timber； only intuitive insightbrings about perfection。 The Sage in his virtue is the first in his community。A true ruler has no need of aggression。？br》
29
Whoever wishes to rise by conquest will fail。 The true goal in lifeis spiritual and can not be conquered by force。 The aggressor destroysit。 The conqueror loses it。 Mankind is forever in change； Some run ahead；soon they fall back。 Some are powerful； soon they weaken。 Some are fiery；soon they are cold。 Some are victorious； soon defeated。 The Sage is notmoved by earthly ambitions； he avoids self aggrandizement； he avoids selfelevation。？br》
30
Whoever advises the ruler in the spirit of Tao will avoid rule by forceof arms： force begets force。 Where armies are arrayed against each other；grow thistle and thorn。 Wars are the parents of hunger and misery。 TheSage wants peace； nothing else； he aspires never for conquest。 He is victoriousin restraint； victorious with arrogance； victorious without presumption；victorious without demonstration and offense。 Whoever seeks military adventureswill perish in them。 Such is the fate of rapaciousness。 Such is the fateof materialism。？br》
31
Victorious in restraint； victorious with arrogance； victorious withoutpresumption； victorious without demonstration and offense。 Whoever seeksmilitary adventures will perish in them。 Such is the fate of rapaciousness。Now arms； however beautiful； are instruments of evil omen； hateful； itmay be said； to all creatures。 Therefore they who have the Tao do not liketo employ them。 The superior man ordinarily considers the left hand themost honourable place； but in time of war the right hand。 Those sharp weaponsare instruments of evil omen； and not the instruments of the superior man；…heuses them only on the compulsion of necessity。 Calm and repose are whathe prizes； victory （by force of arms） is to him undesirable。 To considerthis desirable would be to delight in the slaughter of men； and he whodelights in the slaughter of men cannot get his will in the kingdom。 Onoccasions of festivity to be on the left hand is the prized position； onoccasions of mourning； the right hand。 The second in command of the armyhas his place on the left； the general commanding in chief has his on theright；…his place； that is； is assigned to him as in the rites of mourning。He who has killed multitudes of men should weep for them with the bitterestgrief； and the victor in battle has his place （rightly） according to thoserites。？br》
32
The Tao； considered as unchanging； has no name。 Though in its primordialsimplicity it may be small； the whole world dares not deal with （one embodying）it as a minister。 If a feudal prince or the king could guard and hold it；all would spontaneously submit themselves to him。 Heaven and Earth （underits guidance） unite together and send down the sweet dew； which； withoutthe directions of men； reaches equally everywhere as of its own accord。As soon as it proceeds to action； it has a name。 When it once has thatname； （men） can know to rest in it。 When they know to rest in it； theycan be free from all risk of failure and error。 The relation of the Taoto all the world is like that of the great rivers and seas to the streamsfrom the valleys。？br》
33
He who knows other men is discerning； he who knows himself is intelligent。He who overcomes others is strong； he who overcomes himself is mighty。He who is satisfied with his lot is rich； he who goes on acting with energyhas a （firm） will。
He who does not fail in the requirements of his position； continueslong； he who dies and yet does not perish； has longevity。？br》
34
All…pervading is the Great Tao！ It may b