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s his desires extinguished will find more desires arising of their own accord。 Whoever desires little is easily satisfied。 Whoever desires much suffers frustration。
Therefore； the intelligent person is at one with Nature； and so serves as a model for others。
By not showing off； he is exemplary。 By not asserting that he is right； he does the right thing。 By not boasting of what he will do； he succeeds in doing more than he promises。
By not gloating over his successes； his achievements are acclaimed by others。 By not competing with others； he achieves without opposition。
Therefore the old saying is not idle talk： 〃Submit to Nature if you would reach your goal。〃 For that is the only genuine way。
23
Things which act naturally do not need to be told how to act。 The wind and rain begin without being ordered； and quit without being commanded。 This is the way with all natural beginnings and endings。
If Nature does not have to instruct the wind and the rain； how much less should man try to direct them？
Whoever acts naturally is Nature itself acting。 And whoever acts unintelligently is unintelligence in action。
By acting naturally； one reaps Nature's rewards。 So by acting intelligently； one achieves intelligent goals。 Whereas by acting unintelligently； one comes to an unintelligent end。
Those who do not trust Nature as a model cannot be trusted as guides。
24
One who tries to stand on tiptoe cannot stand still。 One who stretches his legs too far cannot walk。
One who advertises himself to much is ignored。 One who is too insistent on his own views finds few to agree with him。
One who claims too much credit does not get even what he deserves。 One who is too proud is soon humiliated。
These； when judged by the standards of Nature； are condemned as 〃Extremes of greediness and self…destructive activity。〃 Therefore； one who acts naturally avoids such extremes。
25
There exists something which is prior to all beginnings and endings； Which； unmoved and unmanifest； itself neither begins nor ends。 All…pervasive and inexhaustible； it is the perpetual source of everything else；
For want of a better name； I call it Nature。 If I am forced to describe it； I speak of it as 〃ultimate reality。〃
Ultimate reality involves initiation of growth； initiation of growth involves completion of growth； and completion of growth involves returning to that whence it came。
Nature is ultimate； the principle of initiating is ultimate； and the principle of perfecting is ultimate。 And the intelligent person is also ultimate。 Four kinds of ultimate； then； exist； and the intelligent man is one of them。
Man devotes himself to satisfying his desires； fulfilling his purposes； realizing his ideals； or achieving his goals。 But goals are derived from aims。 And all aiming is Nature's aiming； and is Nature's way of being itself。
26
Saneness or sobriety is more basic than frivolity。 Calmness or self…sufficiency is superior to being agitated。
Therefore the intelligent man； though he goes on a long journey； will never depart far from his means of conveyance。 No matter how exciting the distractions； he never submits to their lures。
What would happen if Nature were to act frivolously？
If it became frivolous； it would be deprived of its sanity。 If it became agitated； it would lose control of itself。
27
The wise traveler has no need to retrace his steps。 The effective speaker does not need to repeat himself。 The generous trader needs no scales。
The self…closing door needs no bolt； for it will not open itself even though it is not forced to stay shut。 Things which go together naturally do not have to be tied； for they will not separate even without bonds。
Therefore the intelligent man expresses his beneficence to other men by accepting each man's own way as best for himself。 And he performs the same service for all other beings； for he willingly recognizes that； by following its own nature； each thing does the best that can be done for it。
This may be called the two…pronged lesson： Bad men can learn from the good man's successes。 Good men can learn from the bad man's failures。
Whoever despises such teachers； whether good or bad； or who fails to appreciate such lessons； Even though he may be a 〃walking encyclopedia；〃 is really a misguided fool。 This is the secret of wisdom。
28
He who knows how to be aggressive； and yet remains patient； becomes a receptacle for all Nature's lessons。 Being thus receptive； he continually reembodies intelligence； and recuperates his primal nature。
He who knows how to be brilliant； and yet remains demure； becomes the ideal which all things have as their ultimate goal。 Being thus the ideal； he actualizes the unending goal of existence； and reinstates his primordial condition of perfect self sufficiency。
He who know how to be proud； and yet remains humble； becomes the recipient of all Nature's bounties。 Being thus receptive； he reintegrates intrinsic goodness； and restores primitive wholeness。
Intrinsic goodness； when devoted to varieties of uses； functions as instrumental value。 When the intelligent man employs instrumental values； he treats them as means to ends； For he is concerned with the ultimate ends； never mistaking the means as ends in themselves。
29
Whenever someone sets out to remold the world； experience teaches that he is bound to fail。
For Nature is already as good as it can be。 It cannot be improved upon。 He who tries to redesign it； spoils it。 He who tries to redirect it； misleads it。
Consider how Natures operates： Some things precede while others follow。 Some things blow one way while some blow another。 Some things are strong while others are weak。 Some things are going up while others are going down。
Therefore the intelligent man avoids both extremes； shunning excess in one way as well as in the other。
30
Whoever tries to help Nature run itself does not need to use force。 For force will be met with force； and wherever force is used fighting and devastation follows。
After the battle come years of destitution。
He who is wise lets well enough alone。 He does not press a victory by further conquest。
When peace has been restored； he does not behave like an arrogant victor。 When security has been regained； he does not gloat like a conqueror。 When he gets what he needs； he does not destroy those who have been defeated。 Whenever he does something which he has to do； he does it without cruelty。
When things reach maturity； they decay of themselves。 So cruelty is unnatural。 Whoever acts unnaturally will come to an unnatural finish。
31
Weapons have a negative value； for they create fear in others。 Therefore； the follower of Nature avoids them。
For when among intimates； one naturally prefers the gentler； more trusting； position on the left。 And when among enemies； one naturally jockeys for the more strategic position on the right。
Since weapons have a negative value； the intelligent man will have nothing to do with them if he can。 But when he is forced to use them； he does so w