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69
Those who use weapons have a saying which goes：
〃I don't presume to act like the host； and instead play the part of the guest；
I don't advance an inch； but rather retreat a foot。〃
This is called moving forward without moving forword？br》 Rolling up one's sleeves without baring one's arms？br》 Grasping firmly without holding a weapon？br》 And enticing to fight when there's no opponent。
Of disasters； none is greater than ＇thinking＇ you have no rival。
To think you have no rival is to come close to losing my treasures。
Therefore； when weapons are raised and ＇the opponents＇ are farily well matched；
Then it's the one who feels grief that will win。
70
My words are easy to understand；
And easy to put into practice。
Yet no one in the world can understand them；
And no one can put them into practice。
Now my words have an ancestor； and my deeds have a lord；
And it's simply because ＇people＇ have no understanding ＇of them＇； that they therefore don't understand me。
But when those who understand me are few； then I'm of great value。
Therefore the Sage wears coarse woolen cloth； but inside it he holds on to jade。
71
To know you don't know is best。
Not to know you ＇don't＇ know is a flaw。
Therefore； the Sage's not being flawed
Stems from his recognizing a flaw as a flaw。
Therefore； he is flawless。
72
When the people don't respect those in power； then what they greatly fear is about to arrive。
Don't narrow the size of the places in which they live；
Don't oppress them in their means of livelihood。
It's simply because you do not oppress them； that they therefore will not be fed up。
Therefore the Sage knows himself but doesn't show himself；
he cherishes himself but doesn't value himself。
For this reason； he rejects that and takes this。
73
If you're brave in being daring； you'll be killed；
If you're brave in not being daring； you'll live。
With these two things； in one case there's profit； in the other there's harm。
The things Heaven hates梬ho knows why？
The Way of Heaven is not to fight yet to be good at winning？br》 Not to speak yet skillfully respond？br》 No one summons it； yet it comes on its own？br》 To be at ease yet carefully plan。
Heaven's net is large and vast；
Its mesh may be coarse yet nothing slips through。
74
If the people were constant ＇in their behavior＇ and yet did not fear death；
How could you use execution to intimidate them？
If you brought it about that the people were constant ＇in their behavior＇ and moreover feared； and ＇we＇ took those who behaved in abnormal ways and killed them梬ho would dare act in this way？！
If the people are constant and moreover necessarily fear death；
then we constantly have the one in charge of executions。
Now killing people in place of the one in charge of executions；
this ＇is like＇ cutting wood in place of the head carpenter。
And of those who cut wood in place of the head carpenter； very few do not hurt their hands！
75
The reason why people starve；
Is because they take so much in tax…grain。
Therefore they starve。
The reason why the common people cannot be ruled；
Is because their superiors have their reason for acting。
Therefore they cannot be ruled。
The reason why people take death lightly；
Is because they so avidly seek after life。
Therefore they take death lightly。
Only those who do not act for the purpose of living？br》 Only these are superior to those who value life。
76
When people are born； they're supple and soft；
Whey they die； they end up stretched out firm and rigid；
When the ten thousand things and grasses and trees are alive； they're supple and pliant；
When they're dead； they're withered and dried out。
Therefore we say that the firm and rigid are compassions of death；
While the supple； the soft； the weak； and the delicate are compassions of life。
If a soldier is rigid； he won't win；
If a tree is rigid； it will come to its end。
Rigidity and power occupy the inferior position；
Suppleness； softness； weakness； and delicateness occupy the superior position。
77
The Way of Heaven is like the flexing of a bow。
The high it presses down； the low it raises up。
From those with a surplus it takes away； to those without enough it adds on。
Therefore the way of Heaven？br》 Is to reduce the excessive and increase the insufficient；
The Way of Man？br》 Is to reduce the insufficient and offer more to the excessive。
Now； who is able to have a surplus and use it to offer to Heaven？
Clearly； it's only the one who possesses the Way。
Therefore the Sage？br》 Take actions but does not possess them；
Accomplishes his tasks but does not dwell on them。
Like this； is his desire not to make a display of his worthiness。
78
In the whole world； nothing is softer and weaker than water。
And yet for attacking the hard and strong； nothing can bear it；
Because there is nothing you can use to replace it。
That water can defeat the unyielding？br》 That the weak can defeat the strong？br》 There is no one in the whole world who doesn't know it；
And yet there is no one who can put it into practice。
For this reason； the words of the Sage say：
To take on yourself the disgrace of the state梩his is called being the lord of ＇the altars of＇ earth and grain；
To assume responsibility for all ill…omened events in the state梩his is called being the king of the world。
Correct words seem to say the reverse ＇of what you expect them to say＇。
79
To make peace where there has been great resentment； there is bound to be resentment left over。
How could this be regarded as good？
Therefore the Sage ＇holds＇ the right tally yet makes no demands of others。
For this reason； those who have virtue are in charge of the tally；
Those without virtue are in charge of the taxes。
The Way of Heaven has no favorites；
It's always with the good man。
80
Let the country be small and people few？br》 Bring it about that there are weapons for 〃tens〃 and 〃hundreds；〃 yet let no one use them；
Have the people regard death gravely and put migrating far from their minds。
Though they might have boats and carriages； no one will ride them；
Though they might have armor and spears； no one will display them。
Have the people return to knotting cords and using them。
They will relish their food；
Regard their clothing as beautiful；
Delight in their customs；
And feel safe and secure in their homes。
Neighboring states might overlook one another；
And the sounds of chickens and dogs might be overheard；
Yet the people will arrive at old age and death with no comings and goings between them。
81
Sincere words are not showy；
Showy words are not sincere。
Those who know are not 〃widely learned〃；
Those 〃widely learned〃 do not know。
The good do not have a lot；
Those with a lot a