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You should follow behind。
So the wise command the people
But avoid being a burden。
They go in front of the people
But cause no obstruction。
Therefore the realm gladly upholds them；
And never resents doing so。
Because they do not contend
No one in the realm contends with them。
67
The whole world calls my Way vast
And says it resembles nothing else。
It is precisely because it is vast
That it resembles nothing else。
If it resembled something else
How could it be anything but small？
I have three treasures
I hold to and cherish。
The first is compassion；
The second is moderation；
The third is called not rashly
Taking the lead in the realm。
Being compassionate I can show courage；
Being moderate I can be generous；
Not rashly taking the lead
I can command the officials。
Courage without compassion；
Generosity without moderation；
Going in front instead of behind；
Is certain to end in destruction。
With compassion you will win in war
And be impregnable in peace。
Heaven will protect you
With the gift of compassion。
68
The greatest warrior is not formidable。
The greatest fighter is never angry。
The best strategist never encounters the enemy。
The best employer of talent is humble。
This is known as the power of non…contention。
This is known as respecting others？talents。
This is known as echoing the profundity of heaven。
69
The strategists say：
慖t抯 rash to play the host： I prefer to play the guest。
It抯 rash to go forward an inch； I retreat a foot instead。？br》 This is known as advancing without moving；
Rolling up one抯 sleeve without an arm；
Meeting an enemy by force without an enemy；
And waging war without a battle。
There抯 nothing worse than treating war lightly。
Doing that will lose me all my treasure。
When two opponents encounter each other；
The one that is most regretful will win。
70
My words are easy to understand
And easy to put into practice；
Yet no one can understand them
Or put them into practice。
Words must have an origin
And actions must have a guide。
People ignorant of this
Fail to understand me。
Those who understand are few：
Those who ignore me are celebrated。
So the wise though meanly dressed；
Hide priceless jade on their person。
71
To know without thinking one knows is best。
Not to know but to think one knows is harmful。
It is by being aware of harm that one avoids it。
The wise person does not come to harm。
It is because the wise are aware of harm
That they avoid coming to harm。
72
When people don抰 respect what is powerful
Things have the power to overcome them。
Don抰 press down on their lives；
Don抰 constrict their livelihood。
It抯 because you don抰 oppress them；
That they won抰 weary of the burden。
So the wise know themselves；
But don抰 make a display of themselves；
Love themselves
But don抰 over…value themselves。
Taking the one； they leave the other。
73
One who抯 fearless in being brave will be killed。
One who抯 fearless in being cautious remains alive。
One of these is useful； the other harmful。
Heaven disdains what it disdains
Who knows the reasons why？
Even the wise find these things difficult。
The way of heaven
Overcomes easily without contention；
Replies though it does not speak；
Invites though it does not summon；
Obeys the laws though it seems free。
The net of heaven is vast。
The mesh is wide
But nothing slips through。
74
If people don抰 fear death
How will you frighten them with death？
If people always fear death
And I seize and execute
Anyone who does anything new；
Who will dare to move？
There is a public executioner who kills。
Killing on behalf of the public executioner；
Is called cutting wood on behalf of the carpenter。
In cutting wood on behalf of the carpenter；
There are few who escape hurting their hands。
75
The people are starving。
It抯 because their rulers over…tax them
That the people are starving。
The people are hard to govern。
It抯 because their rulers are quick to act
That people are hard to govern。
The people treat death lightly。
It抯 because people over…value life
That they treat death lightly。
It抯 because one sets no store by life；
That one is wiser than those who do。
76
We are supple and weak when born；
And hard and stiff when dead。
Trees and grass are supple and tender shoots；
But dry and withered when dead。
The hard and stiff are companions of death。
The supple and weak are companions of life。
The stiffly held weapon will not conquer。
Hard wood will fall to the axe。
The tall and stiff is of inferior rank。
The supple and weak is of superior rank。
77
The Way of heaven is like stringing a bow。
It depresses the high；
And raises the low。
It takes from excess；
And gives to the lacking。
It抯 heaven抯 Way
To take from excess
And give to the lacking。
People do otherwise。
They take from those who lack
And give to those with excess。
Who can take his excess
And give it to the realm？
One who knows the Way。
So the wise do good but ask no thanks。
They do their work but claim no merit。
They do not wish to display their virtue。
78
Nothing in the world is weaker or gentler than water。
But nothing exceeds it at conquering the hard and strong。
That is because nothing displaces it。
That the weak overcomes the strong；
And the gentle overcomes the hard；
Is something that everyone knows
But no one can put into practice。
So the wise say：
One who takes on himself the state抯 humility
Is called a ruler worthy of its institutions。
One who takes on himself the state抯 adversity；
Is called a ruler worthy of governing the realm。
True words
Seem perverse。
79
When there is peace between great enemies
There is bound to be lingering resentment。
How can this be considered virtuous？
So the wise become creditors
But exact no payment from the people。
The virtuous keep the tally；
Those without virtue exact it。
The Way of heaven shows no favouritism。
It merely supports the good。
80
Let states and their population be small in size。
Let the people； though they have weapons
For an army； not use them。
Let them take death seriously
And not wander to far…off places。
Though they have boats and wagons
Let them not find a use for them。
Though they have weapons and armour
Let them have no occasion to show them。
Return them to measuring with a knotted rope；
They抣l find savour in their food；
And good…taste in their clothing；
Find contentment in their homes