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Clutches at nothing and therefore loses nothing。
The way people commonly handle affairs often leads to failure just at the point of success。
Be as cautious throughout as at the beginning； and there will be no failures。
That is why the Sage desires Non…desire。
He does not value rare things。
He studies the unfathomable。
He avoids the mistakes of ordinary people and assists all things to fulfil their natures； not daring to contrive any other action。
65
The ancients who were most adept at ruling did not try to enlighten the people； but instead gradually made them stupid。 The people are difficult to govern because they are clever。
Hence； the nation's malefactor is one who uses cleverness to govern。
While the nation's benefactor is one who does not use cleverness to govern。
To understand both of these is also to harmonise with an eternal pattern。
To understand and harmonise with that pattern is called Profound Te。
Profound Te is so deep； so far…reaching。
It causes things to return and eventually reach Great Confluence。
66
The river and sea rule the hundred valleys by making the lower position an asset。
Hence； they are kings of the hundred valleys。
One must speak as if under them；
That is how the Sage remains over the people without oppressing them。
That is how he remains in front without blocking them。
The whole world is happy to draw near him and does not tire of him。
Because he does not compete； absolutely no…one can compete with him。
67
All the world considers my Tao great and unrelated to anything else。
Precisely because it is so great it is 〃unrelated to anything else。〃
If it were related to other things it would have grown small a long time ago。
I have three treasures which I possess and maintain securely。
The first is parental love。
The second is frugality。
The third is not daring to be first。
Possessing parental love； one can be courageous。
Possessing frugality； one can be generous。
Not daring to be first； one can lead all 〃instruments〃。
Today； many people reject parental love but desire courage。
They reject frugality but desire generosity。
And they reject following but desire to be first。
This is to court death。 Influenced by parental love； the offence will win wars； and the defence will be firm。
Through the influence of parental love； heaven will provide succour and protection。
68
Good men are not aggressive。
A good fighter does not lose his temper。
Those good at defeating the enemy do not engage them directly。
One who is good at using men places himself below them。
This is the Te of non…contention or strength from the ability to use people。
It is in accord with most ancient heaven。
69
Military tacticians have a saying：
〃I dare not be the aggressor； but rather the defender。
I dare not advance an inch； but would rather retreat a foot。〃
This is to move without moving；
To raise one's fists without showing them；
To lead the enemy on but against no adversary；
To wield a weapon but not clash with the enemy's。
No disaster is greater than taking the enemy lightly。
If I take the enemy lightly； I am on the verge of losing my treasures。
Hence； when opposing troops resist each other； the one stung by grief will be the victor。
70
My words are very easy to understand and very easy to practice。
Yet no…one in the world can understand them；
No…one can practice them。
My words have their sources； my deeds their precedents。
If people do not understand that； they do not understand me。
The fewer who know me； the more valuable I am。
That is why the Sage wears course clothes while carrying jade in his bosom。
71
To know yet appear not knowing is best。
To not know yet appear knowing is sickness。
Whoever is sick of sickness will not be sick。
The Sage is never sick； because he is sick of sickness。
Thereby he is never sick。
72
If people do not fear the awesome； something more awful is imminent。
But do not be disrespectful of their dwellings。
If not oppressed； they will not press。
That is why the Sage knows himself but does not reveal himself。
He has self…respect； but does not seek recognition。
Hence； he rejects one and takes the other。
73
To have the courage to dare is to die。
To have the courage to dare not is to live。
Heaven abominates in both these cases； whether harmful or beneficial。
Who knows why？
Even the Sage feels it is difficult。
The Tao of heaven does not contend； yet it easily wins；
It does not speak； yet gets a good response；
It comes without being called；
It is calm； yet everything is minutely planned。
The web of heaven is so vast； so vast。
Though its mesh is wide； it loses nothing。
74
If the people do not fear death； it is useless to threaten them with the spectre of death。
If the people have a normal fear of death； and some do something unorthodox；
Then I would catch them and put them to death。
Who would dare break the law？
There is always an executioner in charge of killing。
If someone tries to do the killing for the executioner； it is called trying to chop wood for the Great Carpenter。
Few who substitute for the Great Carpenter do not injure their own limbs。
75
If the people starve； it is because those above them tax their livelihood too heavily。
That is why they starve。
If the people are unruly；
It is because those above them are too Active。
That is why they are unruly。
If the people take death lightly； it is because they seek life's bounty。
That is why they take death lightly。
Those who live life without striving are exemplars of valuing life。
76
When a person is born he is soft and supple。
When he dies he is stiff and hard。
All things； including plants are soft and tender at birth。
At death they are withered and dry。
Hence the stiff and the hard are the closest to death； the soft and the supple are closest to life。
That is why a rigidly strong army is not victorious。
The sturdy tree gets cut down。
Rigidity and strength are inferior；
Suppleness and softness are superior。
77
The Tao of heaven is like drawing a bow：
For high things； lower： for low things； raise；
If excessive； reduce； if insufficient； supplement。
The Tao of heaven reduces the excessive and supplements the insufficient。
The way of man is not so。
It takes from the insufficient and adds to the excessive。
Who can have enough surplus to supplement the world？
Only those with Tao。
That is why the Sage acts but does not demand subservience； is deserving of merit yet claims no credit。
He has no desire to show his worth。
78
Nothing in the world is softer and more supple than water。
Yet when attacking the hard and the strong nothing can surpass it。
The supple overcomes the hard。