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To repeatedly accumulate Virtue
If you repeatedly accumulate Virtue；
Then there is nothing you cannot overcome。
When there is nothing you cannot overcome；
No one knows where it will end；
You can possess the state。
And when you possess the mother of the state；
You can last a very long time。
This is called having deep roots
and a firm base。
It is the Way of long life and long…lasting vision。
60
Emotions
Ruling a large state is like cooking a small fish。
When you use the Way to govern the world；
Evil spirits will not have godlike power；
It is that their power will not harm men。
But it is not only that their powers will not harm men；
The sage also； will not harm them。
Since these two do not do not harm others；
Therfore their Virtues intermingle and returns to them。
61
International relations
A large state is like the lower part of a river。
It is the female of the world。
It is the meeting point of the world。
The female constantly overcomes
The male with tranquility。
Because she is tranquil；
Therefore she is fittinly underneath。
The large state … if it is below the small state；
Then it takes over the small state。
The small state … if it is below the large state；
Then it is taken over by the large state。
Therefore some by being low take over；
And some by being low are teken over。
Therefore a large state merely desires
To unite and rear others；
While the small state desires
To enter and te serve others。
If both get what they want；
Then the large state should
Fittingly be underneath。
62
Sin
The Way is that toward which all things flow。
It is the treasure of the good man；
And that which protect the bad。
Beautiful words can be bought and sold；
Honored deeds can be presented to others as gifts；
Even with things that people regard as no good …
Will they be rejected？
Therefore when the Son of Heaven
is being enthroned or the Three Ministers installed；
Though you might salute them with gifts of jade
Preceded by teams of four horses；
That is not so good as siiting still and offering this。
That is the reason why he ancients
valued this … what was it？
Did they not say；
Those who seek with this； will attain；And thodse who commit offenses with this； will escape？
Therefore； it is the most valued thing in the world。
63
Work
Act without acting。
Serve without corncern for affairs。
Find flavor in what has no flavor。
Regard the small as large； and the few as many。
And repay resentment with kindness。
Plan for the difficult while it is easy；
Act on the large when it is minute。
The most difficult things in the world
Begin as things that are easy。
The most difficult things in the world
Arise from the minute。
Therefore the sage； to the end；
Does not strive to do the great。
Those who too lightly agree；
Will necessarily be trusted by few；
And those who regard many things as easy；
Will necessarily end up with many difficulties。
Therefore； the Sage always regards things as difficult；
And as a result； in the end he has no difficulty。
64
Care at the beginning … Care at the end
What is at rest is easy to hold；
What has not yet given a sign； is easy to plan for；
The brittle is easily shattered；
The minute is easily scattered。
Act on it before it comes into being；
Order it before it turns into chaos。
A tree so big as a man's embrace
Starts out as the tiniest shoot；
A terrace of nine stories high
Rises up from a basket of dirt。
A high place of a hundred or thousand feet high
starts under your feet。
Those who act on it ruin it；
Those who hold on to it lose it。
Therefore the Sage does not act；
And as a result； he does not ruin things；
He does not hold on to things；
And as a result； he does not lose things。
In people's handling of affairs；
They always ruin things
When they are right at the point of completion。
Therefore we say； If you are as careful at the end
As you were at the beginning； you will have no failures。
Therefore the Sage seeks freedom from desire
And does not value goods that are hard to obtain。
He learns not to learn
And returns to what the masses pass by。
He could help the ten thousand things
To find their own nature；
Yet he dare not do it。
65
History
Those who practiced Tao in antiquity；
Did not use it to enlighten the people；
Rather they used it； to make them dumb。
Now the reason why people are difficult；
Is because their knowledge。
As a result； to use knowlwedge to rule the state
Is thievery of the state。
To use ignorance to rule the state
Is kindness to the state。
One who constantly understands these two；
Also understands the principle。
To constantly understand the principle …
This is called Profound Virtue。
Profound Virtue is deep； is far…reaching；
And together with things it returns。
Thus we arrive at the Great Accord。
66
Lead by following
The reason why rivrs and oceans are able
to be the kings of the hundred valleys is
that they are good at being below them。
For this reason they are able to be the kings
of the hundred valleys。
Therefore in the Sage's desire to be above the people；
He must in his speach be below them。
if he would lead them； he must follow behind。
And in his desire to be at the front of the people
He must in his person be behind them；
Thus he dwells above；
Yet the people do not regard him as heavy；
And he dwells in front；
Yet the people do not regard him as posing a threat。
The whole world delights in his praise
and never tires of him。
It is not because he is not contentious；
That as a result； no one in the world
can content with him。
67
Three treasures
The whole world says； I am the Great；
Great and unlike everyone else。
But it is precisely because I am unlike everyone else；
That I am therefore able to be the Great。
Were I like everyone else；
For a long time now I would have seemed
insignificant and small。
I hold and keep three treasures；
Hold on to them and treasure them。
The first is compassion；
the second is frugality；
The third is not presuming to be
At the forefront of the world。
Now。 it is because I am compassionate
that I therefore can be courageous；
And； it is because I am frugal
that I therefore can be generous；
And it is because I do not presume
To be at the forefront of the world；
That I therefore can be the head
of those with complete talent。
Now； if you abandon this compassion；
and yet try to be courageous；
And if you abandon this frugality；
And yet try to be genero