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Eloquent words can purchase honour from others；
And admirable deeds can put one above others；
How can it be abandoned by men； even in their evil deeds？
Therefore； when the Son of Heaven mounts the throne and the principal ministers come to their places；
It is better to offer Tao as a present （without any ceremonies）；
Though there is the round jadeware； followed by the four…horse chariot。
Why is Tao so much valued from the old days on？
Can it not be said that （with it） one can get what he seeks for and be forgiven his sin？
Thus it is valued by all under Heaven。
63
Consider nonaction as and action； having no trouble as an affair and flavourless as a flavour。
No matter how hostile others are toward me；
I always repay them with 〃De。〃
Prepare for a difficult problem while it is easy；
Enter on a great task while it is still small。
All the difficult things under Heaven necessarily arise from the state in which they were easy；
All the great tasks under Heaven arise from the state in which they were small。
For this reason； the sage never does great things；
And he can accomplish great things just on that account。
Light promising makes on lose one's credit；
And thinking things easy leads to difficulties。
So； the sage； though he is very wise； pays much attention to the difficulties；
Therefore he is free from difficulties in the end。
64
The stability of things is easy to hold while they are stable；
Things are easy to deal with while they show no sign of change；
Things are easily broken while they are still fragile；
Things are easily dispersed while they are minute。
Deal with things before they have happened；
And get things in order before their disorder begins。
A huge tree which fills one's arms grows from a tiny seedling；
A high terrace which has nine storeys rises from a small heap of earth；
A journey of a thousand li begins with the first step。
He who takes action messes things up；
And he who holds things fast loses them。
Therefore； the sage does not fail in anything since he does nothing；
Does not lose anything since he holds nothing。
People often fail when they are about to succeed in their business。
If they are as careful at the end as at the beginning；
They would not ruin their business。
Therefore the sage's desire is to have no desire；
And he doesn't value rare goods。
（The Sage's） learning is to learn nothing； in order to remedy the fault that people often have。
Thus he helps the natural development of all things； and does not dare to act constrainedly。
65
From of old those who have carried out the principle of Tao do not enlighten the people with it； but make them foolish and simple with it。
What makes it difficult to govern the people is that they have too much knowledge；
Therefore to govern the state by wisdom is a disaster for the state；
And not to govern the state by wisdom is a blessing for the state。
It is a principle to now the two （by wisdom and not by wisdom）。
Carrying out the principle forever is called the mysterious 〃De。〃
The mysterious 〃De〃 is very deep and far…reaching。
It is contrary to the nature of concrete things；
But leads to the greatest conformity。
66
The rivers and seas can become the masters of many streams just because they skillfully stay in lower valleys。
So they can be the leaders of many streams。
Therefore （he） who wants to rule over the people should show his modesty by his words。
He who wants to lead the people should place himself behind them。
In this way； the sage is above the people； but the people do not feel him as a burden。
He is in front of the people （leading them）； but the people do not feel him as a hindrance。
Therefore all the people under Heaven revere him and do not tire of him。
Just because he does not compete with others；
Nobody under Heaven can compete with him。
67
All the people under Heaven say that my Tao is great；
But it is not like anything concrete。
Just because it is great；
It is not like anything concrete。
If it is like something concrete；
It would have been very small for long。
I have three precious things which I hold up and preserve：
The first if 〃tolerance〃；
The second is 〃economy〃；
The third is 〃to dare not go ahead of all the people under Heaven。〃
With tolerance； one can be brave；
With economy； one can be generous；
With not daring to go ahead of all the people under Heaven； one can be a leader。
Now； seeking bravery without tolerance； seeking generosity without economy； and seeking precedence without retreat will only end with death。
With tolerance； one can be victorious in war or strengthen himself in defense。
When Heaven is to save a person； it will protect him through tolerance。
68
He who is god at being a shi （officer） does not boast of his martialism；
He who is good at fighting does not resort to his rage；
He who is skillful in winning against the enemy does not wrestle with them；
He who is skillful in managing his men has a modest attitude toward them。
This is called the De of not contending with others；
This is called the power of making use of others' force；
This is called being in accord with the Way of Heaven；
Thus it has been a principle very long since。
69
A master in the art of war is very correct in saying：
〃I dare not take the offensive； but prefer to take the defensive；
I dare not advance an inch； but prefer to retreat a foot。〃
This is called：
Disposing no lines of troops；
Raising no arms；
Confronting no enemy；
And grasping no weapons。
There is no disaster greater than underestimating the enemy；
Underestimating the enemy nearly makes me lose my 〃three precious things。〃
Therefore the side in grief conquers in case of the balance of the forces of two sides。
70
My words are very easy to understand； and very easy to practice。
But no one under Heaven is able to understand them or to practice them。
Speeches should have their main principle；
And deeds should have their master。
Because of their ignorance； the people are not able to understand me。
Those who are able to understand me are very few；
And those who are able to follow me are very heard to meet。
Therefore the sage （who is not understood） looks like he is wearing coarse grab； but he has a precious jade in his heart。
71
It is the best for one to know that he does not know；
It is an illness to pretend to know when he actually does not know。
Recognizing the illness as an illness prevents one from the illness。
The sage is free from the illness；
Because he recognizes the illness as an illness。
He can prevent the illness thereby。
72
When the people do not fear the force （of the ruler）；
Something forceful and terrible would happen。
Don't force the people out of their houses；
D