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Those who act on it； destroy it。
Those who hold on it； lose it。
With things … some go forward； others follow；
Some are hot … others submissive and weak；
Some rise up … while others fall down；
Therefore the Sage avoids extremes；
Excesses； and extravagance。
30
Violence
Those which advise their ruler in the way of Tao；
Do not use weapons to commit violence in the world。
Such deeds easily rebounds。
In places where armies are stationed；
Thorns and brambles will grow。
The good general achieves his result and that is all；
He does not use the occasion to seize strength from it。
He achieves his result； but does not become arrogant。
He achieves his result； but does not praise his deeds。
He achieves his result； and yet does not brag。
He achieves his results； yet he abides with the result
Because he has no choice。
This is called 〃Achieving one's result without using violence〃。
When things reach their prime； they get old；
We call this 〃Not the way of Tao〃。
What is not the way of Tao
Will come to an early end。
31
Tools of violence
As for weapons … they are instruments of ill omen；
And among creatures there are those that hate them。
Therefore； who is a follower of Tao； never use them。
When the wise man is at home； he prefers the left。
When at war； he honors the right。
Therefore； they are not a wise man's tools。
Weapons are instruments of ill omen；
When you have no choice to use them；
It is best to remain trnquil and calm。
You should never look upon them
As things of beauty。
If you see them as beautiful things …
This is to delight the killing of men。
And when you delight in the killing of men；
You will not realize your goal in the land。
Therefore； on happy occasions we honor the left；
But in mourning we honor the right。
Therefore； in the army the general stands on the left；
And the commander…in…chief stands on the right。
Which is so to say； that war is conducted like a funeral。
When multitudes of people are killed；
We stand before them in sorrow and grief。
When we are victorious in battle；
We treat the occasion like a funeral ceremony。
32
Shape
The Tao is forever undefined。
Though it seems small in its natural state；
No one in the world dares to treat it as a subject。
If kings and lords werer able to maintain it；
The ten thousand things would submit to them on their own。
And Heaven Earth would unite to send forth sweet dew。
By nature it would fall equally on all things；
With no one among the people ordering that it be so。
As soon as we start to establish a system；we have names。
And as soon as there are set names；
Then you must also know when it is time to stop。
By knowing to stop … in this way you averts trouble。
The presence of Tao in the world
is like the relationship of smal valley streams
to rivers and seas。
33
Virtue
To understand others is to have wisdom；
To understand yourself is to be wise。
To conquer others is to have strength；
To conquer yourself is to be strong。
To know when you have enough is to be rich。
To go forward with strength is a sign of ambition。
To lose not your place is to last long。
To die but not to be forgotten …
That is true long life。
34
Tao favours no one
The Tao flows and drifts everywhere；
both to the left and to the right。
It accomplishes its tasks and completes its affairs；
And yet for this it is not given a name。
The ten thousand things entrust their lives to it；
And yet it does not act as their master。
Thus it is constantly without desires。
It can be named with the things that are small。
The ten thousand things entrust their lives to it；
And yet it does not act as their master。
It can be named with the things that are great。
Therefore the Sage's ability to accomplish the great
Comes from his not playing the role of the great。
Therefore he is able to accomplish the great。
35
Peace
Hold on to the Great Image
And the whole world will come to you。
Come to you and suffer no harm；
But rather know great safety and peace。
Music and food …
For these passing travelers stop。
Therefore； of the Tao speaking； we say：
Insipid； it is ！ It is lack of flavor。
When you look at it； it is not sufficient to be seen。
When you listen to it； it is not sufficient to be heard。
Yet when you use it； it can't be used up。
36
Influence
If you wish to shrink it；
You must certainly stretch it。
If you wish to weaken it；
You must certainly strenghten it。
If you wish to desert it；
You must certainly work close with it。
If you wish to snatch something from it；
You must certainly give something to it。
This is called the Subtle Light。
The submissive and weak conquer the strong。
Fish should not be taken out of the depths；
The state's sharp weapons should not be displayed。
37
Quieting the heart
Tao is constantly nameless；
Were kings and lords able to maintain it；
The ten thousand things would tranform on their own。
Having transformed； were their desires to become active；
I would subdue them with the nameless simplicity。
Having subdued them with the nameless simplicity；
I would not disgrace them。
By not being disgraced； they will be tranquil。
And Heaven and Earth will
of themselves be correct and right。
38
Religion
The highest virtue is not virtuous；
Therefore it truly has virtue。
The lowest virtue never loses sight of its virtue；
Therefore it has no true virtue。
The highest virtue takes no action
Yet it has no reasons for acting this way。
The highest humanity takes action；
Yet it has no reasons for acting this way。
The highest righteousness takes action
And it has its reasons for acting this way；
The highest propriety takes action
And when no one responds to it；
Then it angrily rolls up its sleeves
And forces people to comply。
Therefore when Tao is lost；
Only then do we have virtue。
When virtue is lost； only then do we have humantiy。
When humanity is lost； there is righteousness。
And when righteousness is lost；
Only then do we have propriety。
As for propriety；
It is but the thin edge of loyalty and sincerity；
And the beginning of disorder。
And knowledge of the future
Is only a flowery trapping of Tao。
It is the beginning of folly。
Therefore the great man
dwells in the Thick and not in what is thin。
and not what is on the surface；
Dwells in the fruit and not in what is a flower。
Therefore accept the One and reject the other。
39
Wholeness
Of Those in ancient times
That attained the one …
Heaven by attaining th