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t is sure to hold thusall under the sky？ By this （method of observation）。？br》
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He who has in himself abundantly the attributes （of the Tao） is likean infant。 Poisonous insects will not sting him； fierce beasts will notseize him； birds of prey will not strike him。 （The infant's） bones areweak and its sinews soft； ut yet its grasp is firm。 It knows not yet theunion of male and female； and yet its virile member may be excited；…showingthe perfection of its physical essence。 All day long it will cry withoutits throat becoming hoarse；…showing the harmony （in its constitution）。
To him by whom this harmony is known； （The secret of） the unchanging（Tao） is shown； And in the knowledge wisdom finds its throne。 All life…increasingarts to evil turn； Where the mind makes the vital breath to burn； （False）is the strength； （and o'er it we should mourn。）
When things have become strong； they （then） become old； which may besaid to be contrary to the Tao。 Whatever is contrary to the Tao soon ends。？br》
56
He who knows （the Tao） does not （care to） speak （about it）； he whois （ever ready to） speak about it does not know it。 He （who knows it） willkeep his mouth shut and close the portals （of his nostrils）。 He will blunthis sharp points and unravel the complications of things； he will temperhis brightness； and bring himself into agreement with the obscurity （ofothers）。 This is called 'the Mysterious Agreement。' （Such an one） cannotbe treated familiarly of distantly； he is beyond all consideration of profitor injury； of nobility or meanness：…he is the noblest man under heaven。？br》
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A state may be ruled by （measures of） correction； weapons of war maybe used with crafty dexterity； （but） the kingdom is made one's own （only）by freedom from action and purpose。 How do I know that it is so？ By thesefacts：…In the kingdom the multiplication of prohibitive enactments increasesthe poverty of the people； the more implements to add to their profit thatthe people have； the greater disorder is there in the state and clan； themore acts of crafty dexterity that men possess； the more do strange contrivancesappear； the more display there is of legislation； the more thieves androbbers there are。 Therefore a sage has said； 'I will do nothing （of purpose）；and the people will be transformed of themselves； I will be fond of keepingstill； and the people will of themselves become correct。 I will take notrouble about it； and the people will of themselves become rich； I willmanifest no ambition； and the people will of themselves attain to the primitivesimplicity。'？br》
58
The government that seems the most unwise； Oft goodness to the peoplebest supplies； That which is meddling； touching everything； Will work butill； and disappointment bring。
Misery！ …happiness is to be found by its side！ Happiness！ … miserylurks beneath it！ Who knows what either will come in the end？ Shall wethen dispense with correction？ The （method of） correction shall by a turnbecome distortion； and the good in it shall by a turn become evil。 Thedelusion of the people （on this point） has indeed subsisted for a longtime。 Therefore the sage is （like） a square which cuts no one （with itsangles）： （like） a corner which injures no one （with its sharpness）。 Heis straightforward； but allows himself no license； he is bright； but doesnot dazzle。？br》
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For regulating the human （in our constitution） and rendering the （proper）service to the heavenly； there is nothing like moderation。 It is only bythis moderation that there is effected and early return （to man's normalstate）。 That early return is what I call the repeated accumulation of theattributes （of the Tao）。 With that repeated accumulation of those attributes；there comes the subjugation we know not what shall be the limit； and whenone knows not what the limit shall be； he may be the ruler of a state。He who possesses the mother of the state may continue long。 His case islike that （of the plant） of which we say that its roots are deep and itsflower stalks firm； …this is the way to secure that its enduring life shalllong be seen。
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Governing a great state is like cooking small fish。 Let the kingdombe governed according to the Tao； and the manes of the departed will notmanifest their spiritual energy。 It is not that those manes have not thatspiritual energy； but it will not be employed to hurt men。 It is not thatit could not hurt men； but neither does the ruling sage hurt them。 Whenthese two do not injuriously affect each other； their good influences convergein the virtue （of the Tao）。？br》
61
What makes a great state is its being （like） a low… lying； down…flowing（stream）；…it becomes the centre to which tend （all the small states） underheaven。 （To illustrate from） the case of all females：…the female alwaysovercomes the male by her stillness。 Stillness may be considered （a sortof） abasement。 Thus it is that a great state； by condescending to smallstates； gains them for itself； and that small states； by abasing themselvesto a great state； win it over to them。 In the one case the abasement leadsto gaining adherents； in the other case to procuring favour。 The greatstate only wishes to unite men together and nourish them； a small stateonly wishes to be received by； and to serve； the other。 Each gets whatis desires； but the great state must learn to abase itself。？br》
62
Tao has of all things the most honoured place。 No treasures give goodmen so rich a grace； Bad men it guards； and doth their ill efface。
（Its） admirable words can purchase honour； （its） admirable deeds canraise their performer above others。 Even men who are not good are not abandonedby it。 Therefore when the sovereign occupies his place as the Son of Heaven；and he has appointed his three ducal ministers though （a prince） were tosend in a round symbol…of…rank large enough to fill both the hands； andthat as the precursor of the team of horses （in the court…yard）； such anoffering would not be equal to （a lesson of） this Tao； which one mightpresent on his knees。 Why was it that the ancients prized this Tao so much？Was it not because it could be got by seeking for it； and the guilty couldescape （from the stain of their guilt） by it？ This is the reason why allunder heaven consider it the most valuable thing。？br》
63
（It is the way of the Tao） to act without （thinking of） acting； toconduct affairs without （feeling the） trouble of them； to taste withoutdiscerning any flavour； to consider what is small as great； and a few asmany； and to recompense injury with kindness。 （The master of it） anticipatesthings that are difficult while they are easy； and does things that wouldbecome great while they are small。 All difficult things in the world aresure to arise from a previous state in which they were easy； and all greatthings from one in which they were small。 Therefore the sage； while henever does what is great； is able on that account to accomplish the greatestthings。 He who lightly promises is sure to keep but little faith； he whois continually thinking things easy is sure to find them difficult。 Thereforethe sage sees difficulty even in what seems easy； and so never has anydifficulties。？br》
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