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Cultivated in the world； its virtue becomes universal。
Thus does
a person judge a person；
a family judge a family；
a village judge a village；
a nation judge a nation；
a world judge a world。
How can I recognize an ideal world ？
By this。
55
One who has great Virtue is like a new…born child。
Wasps； scorpions and cobra snakes will not bite him。
Fearsome beasts will not take him。
Raptors will not attack him。
His bones are soft； his muscles are weak； but his grip is firm。
He knows nothing of physical love and yet stands complete； his Essence is
strong。
He cries aloud all day without growing hoarse； because he is at Peace。
To always know Peace； to always be Open； is an Omen of Long Life。
The Heart that grows Angry becomes Strong。
Strong things only decline。
That is not the Way；
and what is not the Way will soon end。
56
He who knows does not speak。
He who speaks does not know。
Complete the exchange； close the door。
Round the edges； end the separation；
merge with the light； join with the dust。
This is called Mystic Unity。
Therefore；
from then on； never need Temples；
from then on； never be dispersed；
from then on； never need money；
from then on； never be harmed；
from then on； never be Noble；
from then on； never be Humble。
And so be Exalted under Heaven。
57
Govern the country honestly； wage war by deceit。
Do without affairs to gain the world。
How do I know this is so ？
By this。
There is much fear and superstition in the world； and people are very poor。
There is much to gain； and politicians thrive in the confusion。
Clever people develop strange and unusual things。
Law and Order makes a great showing； while thieves and robbers abound。
Thus the wise man says；
If I do nothing； people will reform themselves。
If I keep quiet； people will correct themselves。
If I do not interfere； people will better themselves。
If I have nothing to gain； people will become honest。
58
When Government is subdued； people are simple and honest。
When Government is obtrusive； people are lax and careless。
Disaster acts upon Blessings。
Blessings are subject to Disaster。
Who knows where it all ends ？
It's not right。
Proper becomes improper。
Good turns Evil。
People lose their bearings。
Thus is the wise man
critical but not harsh；
calm but not cutting；
firm but not reckless；
bright but not blinding。
59
In governing men and serving Heaven； there is nothing like Economy。
Now； Economy means early preparation。
Early preparation means to value the accumulation of Virtue。
Value the accumulation of Virtue； and anything is possible。
When anything is possible； there are no limits。
When there are no limits； the Nation can be gained。
Gain the Mother of the Nation； and survival is assured。
This means deep roots； a solid foundation；
and a lifetime of following the Way。
60
Rule a great country as you would prepare delicacies。
Attain the Way under Heaven；
and its Demons will have no power。
Not that its Demons will have no power；
but rather their power will not harm men。
Not that their power will not harm men；
wise Men also will not harm men。
Neither will inflict harm。
Therefore Virtue will return。
61
A large country is a floodplain；
the confluence of the world；
the female of the world。
The female passively overcomes the male；
passively keeps low。
The large country that keeps below the small country； acquires the small
country。
The small country that keeps below the large country； acquires the large
country。
Therefore； either keep low to acquire； or keep low to be acquired。
The large country； not mistakenly； wants to expand its settlements。
The small country； not mistakenly； wants to join the affairs of men。
So together each gets what it wants。
The larger one quite properly keeps low。
62
The Way is the secret of all things。
Treasured by good men； it protects the bad。
Pleasing words may persuade。
Noble deeds can influence。
But of bad men； why abandon them ？
Therefore； at the coronation of the Son of Heaven；
at the installation of the three ministers；
although there be jade discs； followed by teams of horses；
nothing will compare to presenting this Tao。
Why has this Tao been treasured of old ？
Is it not said that to confess wrongdoing is to be forgiven ？
Therefore it is exalted under Heaven。
63
Govern without doing。 Achieve without acting。 Appreciate without
indulging。
Great or small； many or few；
repay Injustice with Virtue。
Plan for difficulty while it is easy。
Handle the big things while they are still small。
Under Heaven； difficult affairs always begin as easy ones。
Under Heaven； great events always arise from small ones。
Thus does the wise man； in the end； do nothing great；
because he already is able to achieve great results。
Remember that quick agreement deserves little trust；
for 'very easy' always turns into 'very difficult'。
Thus does the wise man treat things as difficult；
so that in the end； nothing is difficult。
64
What is calm is easy to manage。
What has not yet spread is easy to contain。
What is brittle is easy to break。
What is small is easy to scatter。
Control it before it happens。
Contain it before it spreads。
A great tree comes from fine pollen。
A multi…level terrace rises from repeated layers。
A thousand mile journey begins with a footstep。
To act is to fail。
To keep is to lose。
Thus does the wise man not act；
and therefore not fail；
not keep； and therefore not lose。
People look for trouble； and often fail on the brink of success。
Care in the end； as at the beginning； ensures success。
Is this not what the wise man wants；
rather than expensive； difficult to obtain goods ？
Know without Learning； to restore people to the way they were。
Help all things to correct themselves； but do not presume to act。
65
At first；
those who knew the Way opposed enlightening people； considering it foolish。
People are more difficult to govern the more they know。
Thus a National government relying upon knowledge deceives the Nation。
When the National government does not rely upon knowledge； the Nation is
blessed。
Those who know these two also apply this standard。
To always know to apply this standard is called Mystic Virtue。
Mystic Virtue is deep and profound； a return to the Harmony of Things。
The greatest Concord was in the Past。
66
The Ocean rules all Valleys because it lies below them；
and thus can be the King of all Valleys。
So the desire to be abo