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And foreknowledge is but the flower of the Way； and the beginning of stupidity。
Therefore the Great Man
Dwells in the thick and doesn't dwell in the thin；
Dwells in the fruit and doesn't dwell in the flower。
Therefore； he rejects that and takes this。
39
Of those in the past that attained the One？br》 Heaven； by attaining the One became clear；
Earth； by attaining the One became stable；
Gods； by attaining the One became divine；
Valley； by attaining the One became full；
Marquises and kings； by attaining the One made the whole land ordered and secure。
Taking this to its logical conclusion we would say？br》 If Heaven were not by means of it clear； it would； I'm afraid； shatter；
If the Earth were not by means of it stable； it would； I'm afraid； let go。
If the gods were not by means of it divine； they would； I'm afraid； be powerless。
If valley were not by means of it full； they would； ＇I'm afraid；＇ dry up。
And if marquises and kings were not by means of it noble and high； they would； I'm afraid； topple and fall。
Therefore； it must be the case that the noble has the base as its root；
And it must be the case that the high has the low for its foundation。
Thus； for this reason； marquises and kings call themselves 〃The
Orphan；〃 〃The Widower；〃 and 〃The One Without Grain。〃
This is taking the base as one's root； is it not？！
Therefore； they regard their large numbers of carriages as having no carriage。
And because of this； they desire not to dazzle and glitter like jade；
But to remain firm and strong like stone。
40
〃Reversal〃 is the movement of the Dao；
〃Weakness〃 is the function of the Dao。
The things of the world originate in being；
And being originates in nonbeing。
41
When the highest type of men hear the Way； with diligence thye're able to practice it；
When the average men hear the Way； some things they retain and others they lose；
When the lowest type of men hear the Way； they laugh out loud at it。
If they didn't laught at it； it couldn't be regarded as the Way。
Therefore； there is a set saying about this that goes：
The bright Way appears to be dark；
The Way that goes forward appears to retreat；
The smooth Way appears to be uneven；
The highest virtue ＇is empty＇ like a valley；
The purest white appears to be soiled；
Vast virtue appears to be insufficient；
Firm virtue appears thin and weak；
The simplest reality appears to change。
The Great Square has no corners；
The Great Vessel takes long to complete；
The Great Tone makes little sound；
The Great Image has no shape。
The Way is Great but has no name。
Only the Way is good at beginning things and also good at bringing things to completion。
42
The Way gave birth to the One。
The One gave birth to the Two。
The Two gave birth to the Three。
And the Three gave birth to the ten thousand things。
The ten thousand things carry Yin on their backs and wrap their arms around Yang。
Through the blending of the qi they arrive at a state of harmony。
The things that are hated by the whole world
Are to be orphaned； widowed； and have no grain。
Yet kings and dukes take these as their names。
Thus with all things梥ome are increased by taking away；
While some are diminished by adding on。
Therefore； what other men teach；
＇I＇ will also consider and then teach to others。
Thus； 〃The strong and violent do not come to a natural end。〃
I will take this as the father of my studies。
43
The softest； most pliable thing in the world runs roughshod over the firmest things in the world。
that which has no substance gets into that which has no spaces or cracks。
I therefore know that there is benefit in taking no action。
The wordless teaching； the benefit of taking no action？br》 Few in the world can realize these！
44
Fame or your body梬hich is more dear？
Your body or possessions梬hich is worth more？
Gain or loss梚n which is there harm？
If your desires are great； you're bound to be extravagant；
If your store much away； you're bound to lose a great deal。
Therefore； if you know contentment； you'll not be disgraced。
If you know when to stop； you'll suffer no harm。
And in this way you can last a very long time。
45
Great completion seems incomplete；
Yet its usefulness is never exhausted。
Great fullness seems to be empty；
Yet its usefulness is never used up。
Great straightness seems to be bent。
Great skill seems to be clumsy。
Great surplus seems to stammer。
Activity overcomes cold；
Tranquility overcomes heat。
If you're quiet and tranquil you can become the ruler of the world。
46
When the world has the Way； ambling horses are retired to fertilize ＇fields＇。
When the world lacks the Way； war horses are reared in the suburbs。
Of crimes梟one is greater than having things that one desires；
Of disasters梟one is greater than not knowing when one has enough。
Of defects梟one brings more sorrow than one desire to attain。
Therefore； the contentment one has when he knows that he has enough； is abiding contentment indeed。
47
No need to leave your door to know the whole world；
No need to peer through your windows to know the Way of Heaven。
The farther you go； the less you know。
Therefore the Sage knows without going； names without seeing；
And completes without doing a thing。
48
Those who work at their studies increase day after day；
Those who have heard the Dao decrease day after day。
They decrease and decrease； till they get to the point where they do nothing。
They do nothing and yet there's nothing left undone。
When someone wants to take control of the world； he must always be unconcerned with affairs。
For in a case where he's concerned with affairs；
He'll be unworthy； as well； of taking control of the world。
49
The Sage constantly has no ＇set＇ mind；
He takes the mind of the common people as his mind。
Those who are good he regards as good；
Those who are not good he also regards as good。
＇In this way＇ he attains goodness。
Those who are trustworthy he trusts；
And those who are not trustworthy he also trusts。
＇In this way＇ he gets their trust。
As for the Sage's presence in the world梙e is one with it。
And with the world he merges his mind。
The common people all fix their eyes and ears on him。
And the Sage treats them all as his children。
50
We come out into life and go back into death。
The companions of life are thirteen；
The companions of death are thirteen；
And yet people； because they regard life as LIFE； in all of their
actions move towards the thirteen that belong to the realm of death。
Now； why is this so？
It's because they regard life as LIFE。
You've no doubt heard of those who are good at holding on to life：
When walking throu