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and higher educational standards and harder tests
are thieves stealing from farmers and factories。
People who lead without pushing education
bless the people and the land。
Education causes discontent for what one has；
creates desire for more and better and higher
ignorance makes people feel good where they are。
To understand the difference here is to know quality
to be able to apply this quality in life is to be on the path
This path 。。。
so long so old so deep so mysterious
going all the way back
to when all was one。
66
Why are oceans greater than creeks and rivers and lakes？
Because they lay lower than the rest
because gravity carries the high to the low
because they are the lowest they are the greatest。
Wise one
to speak to people you must be lower than them；
to lead people you must be behind them；
to be first you must be last；
so that people will listen without feeling alienated ；
so that people will follow without feeling like sheep；
so that your quality can shine without contention。
This way the whole earth will feel your push
and not be bothered with the direction。
Without pushing
and without pushing
no one pulls back。
67
People say that this path is so easy；
simply the way things go
naturally
without trying。
Exactly
because it is so simple； so basic； so minimal
it is so great。
Religion
created from wants and desires； from miracles and visions；
from conflict between mortal and immortal；
is not normal； not natural。
From its ancient manufacture and people's need of it
you can see its smallness。
I have three commandments
compassion； simplicity； and humility
because
only with compassion is a person able to be truly brave
only by living simply can one be truly generous
only by humility does one become the leader。
Today your courage is based on the ease of attack and victory； yourgenerosity on your wealth； not poverty； and your humility on being thefirst； not the last。 You will die； and it will all pass。
But compassion cannot fight without winning； or give without gaining；or be nobody without being somebody。
Nature gives a natural defense of lowliness like the 〃death〃 of thepossum； or the bared neck of the wolf； the sea depths of the ancient coelacanth to that which it wants to protect。
68
The best leaders stay with their local people
the best fighters are cool and calm
the best commanders win without engaging the enemy
the best supervisors act like the lowest employees
the best healers cure without medicine
the best laws have no transgressors
the best priests have no faith。
This is called power
power that comes with flowing with the way
power that is able to guide people
power that is mate to the universe
the oldest power。
69
Military strategists have said
When you don't think you have a good defense；
take the offense
When you don't think you have a good offense；
retreat。
Retreat is called marching in place
rolling up your sleeves but not showing any muscle
the rose in the fisted glove
confronting without threatening。
In life there is nothing worse than
getting mad and attacking
and finding
nothing there 。。。
？br》
Only by losing your possessions
and your self
can you have no enemy。
In war； when armies are recruited and conscripted
when battles are waged
the victor will be the reluctant nation
who takes no joy or glory from fighting。
70
These words of mine
are easy to translate and understand and discuss and practice。
So why is it
nobody anywhere
understands them？ practices them？
My words
have culture； have reason； have a system
but try to make sense of them and you will fail；
try to apply them like rules and you will fail。
This is why people do not understand
my words。
So few understand it
but then
that is its value
guarded like
a pond
frozen
in the winter。
71
Knowing the depths of your own ignorance is healthy。
Thinking that you know
what you really don't
is a cancer。
Only by realizing that you don't know
can you be healed。
The way to heal this cancer
is to recognize your false knowledge
as a disease；
thereby freeing yourself
of it。
72
If your authority is not sufficient
relax
let go
the power of the universe will suffice。
Do not restrict others
or make them do things you want
let go
and they will stop running from you。
The wise
know themselves；
know their power
but do not show it；
know their own quality
but do not use praises or titles。
Let go
of that
take this。
73
People who are brave and who like dares
kill and destroy。
People who are brave and have no taste for daring
live and create。
Either may be appropriate；
both may be good and bad
still；
the universe has no taste for blood；
neither does the follower of the way。
The universe never tries to win
still；
it always does；
never tries to speak
still；
there is always an answer；
never tries to command
still；
everything is ordered。
The net of the universe is wide ；
its mesh is wide
still；
nothing escapes。
74
People not afraid of death
cannot be threatened with
death。
What； then； is the use of threats？
Even if people feared death
and were afraid of its strangeness；
who should be responsible
for carrying out the threat
and killing them？
Famine； rain； drought； hurricanes； snow； tornadoes
are more than sufficient。
For people to do the work of nature
is like
assuming the job of a master carpenter
and doing the sawing
you would be lucky
not to lose a finger。
75
People starve because
governments and religions and businesses spend
too much money
elsewhere。
That is the only reason there is hunger。
People demonstrate and rebel because
religions and businesses and governments make laws
to restrict them。
That is the only reason there isn't peace。
People have no fear of death because
businesses and governments and religions are
so busy trying
to survive。
That is why death carries so little fear for common people；
for having so little to get out of life themselves；
their lives are fuller。
76
At birth a human is soft and flexible；
at death a human is hard and fixed。
In life all things； plants and animals；
are soft and flexible；
but
in death all things
are hard and fixed。
What is hard and fixed is death's friend；
what is soft and flexible is life's friend。
The hard and fixed weapon will break；
the hardw