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People act nicely to gain your respect…
but even if a person is bad；
neither the sage nor the Tao willdesert him。 They accept him。
And when the Emperor is crowned andthe three ministers appointed；
it's better to stay where you areand be with the Tao
than to hurry off with gifts of jadeand a team of four horses。
The old ones 'knew this gesture'；
and by ruling this way they were never
guilty of transgressions or errors。
Nothing under Heaven matters more
than this kind of knowing。
63
The sage does nothing； and so he neverfails …
He holds on to nothing； and so henever loses 。 。 。
Whereas the rest of us always seemto mess up our lives
just at the moment when we seem tobe succeeding！
That's why the sage wants nothing forhimself。
He doesn't want precious things orpossessions。
What is he？ A Student OF The Unknowable；
so he doesn't make mistakes like therest of us
but always tries to help us to betrue to who we are
without ever standing in our way。
And so he says： do things wu…wei； bydoing nothing
Achieve without trying to achieveanything …
Savour the taste of what you cannottaste
Make a small thing great； and the fewinto many …
Take on the largest things when they'restill small；
Start the hardest things while they'restill easy。
It's always the person who thinks thingsare easy
that finds them the hardest in theend。
The way he sees it： everything's potentiallytricky；
so he never ends up out of his depth。
64
When everything is peaceful； don't forgetthe danger；
When things are safe； don't lose youredge …
A brittle thing can break
easily
And a small thing fragment。
So 'act before it happens'。
'order things before chaos breaksout'。
A great tree which takes a crowd tospan its base
Started from being a tiny seed；
And a tower nice sections high beganin the ground。
A journey of a thousand miles startswith the first step。
To act as if you know it all is catastrophic：
and if you try to control it
you will stare into your empty hand。
65
In ancient times； the shrewdest rulers
Didn't try to give people too muchknow…how。
What did they do？ They kept them livingsimply。
So why are people so difficult togovern now？
Because they know too much in theirso…called freedom。
If a leader works deviously；
He will turn the people against him… look and see。
But if you refuse to use that kindof knowing；
Your people will be blessed and happy。
This is where two streams divide：
And if you rule this way
You will be walking the great pathof Te。
Deep Te … this Virtue is everywhere
drawing us all
into our final destiny：
Oneness Of The Source And The Sea 。。 。
66
Why is the sea
the king of a hundred tributaries？
Because everything comes down to it…
So it is kingly
By this name。
So a sage that wants to rule the peoplemust be below them。
If he wants to be their leader； hemust be behind them。
If he has no desire to control
then the people will not feel oppressed；
And if he stands before them for theirown sake； and not his
they will not harm him。
Trusted by everyone； no one will tireof him。
What is his secret？
He never competes。
So there is no one else but him。
67
I have three priceless treasures：
The first is Compassion
the second； thrift
And the third is that I never wantto be ahead of you。
If I have compassion； you will diefor me。 I know that。
If I waste nothing； I can give myselfto you all …
And if I don't seem perfect； thenyou'll trust me to lead you。
These days people scorn compassion。They try to be tough。
They spend all they have； and yetwant to be generous
They despise humility； and want tobe the best。
I tell you that ways Death's。
If you have loved your people； youwill know it
they will fight tooth and nail foryou in attack or defense。
This is the protection of Heaven； andyour harvest。
68
A canny soldier never provokes anyone；
And is never made to lose his temper。
A good fighter never confronts hisenemy head…on：
And those who know how to handle peopledo it humbly。
This comes from the virtue of not…striving；
and from knowing how to link withother people's energy。
Since time gone in the mists
this has been the way to 'pair up'with Heaven。
69
There is a saying； you know； which soldierhave：
'I never use my force before my enemyuses his。
I'd sooner go back a foot than advancean inch。'
This is called going forward withoutmoving；
Rolling up your sleeve without showingyour arm …
And by not； you defeat him withoutapparently doing anything。
This is like being armed； but no onesees what you have。
Never think your enemy is feeble。 That'sdisastrous。
If I do that； I'm bound to lose allI have！
So； you see； when the battle begins
It is the one who seems weakest thatwill win。
70
My words are really very easy to understand
And be with； and walk in 。 。 。 butno one can！
My words have roots； my actions haveprecedents
But people don't see this； and sothey don't see me。
So few of you know or understand me
And so the Tao becomes ever more important。 。 。
The sage goes round like a supertramp；
Hiding the jade； the jewel he carriesin his inmost heart。
71
Those who know seem not to know
And those who don't pretend they do…
This is what it means to be flawed。
If you're sick at this； then you'llwin through。
The sage is。 He is sick of all faults…
He is sick of being sick。 He is well。
72
When the people lack a sense of awe；
There is bound to be disorder or disaster。
Never oppress them in their own homes；
or interfere with their means of livelihood。
If you don't oppose them；
They won't try to depose you。
So； the sage who really knows himself
never shows himself off to his people…
loves himself； without false pride…
discards the mask； and wears his trueface。
73
A person who's brash and fearless willdie；
A person who is cautious will survive…
These two are right； and they are wrong
Heaven looks down on both
and who know the truth？
So even the sage admits some thingsare beyond him。
The Tao of Heaven
doesn't struggle； but it wins through
It doesn't ask
yet it always hears the answer …
It doesn't demand
yet things come； because they wantto be
It has no desires
and yet everything works out as ifplanned。
And though the Net Of Heaven is wide
Not even the tiniest whisper escapesit。
74
If the people are not afraid；
It is useless to try and scare themwith death。
And if people are afraid of death
And you make a point of hanging everycriminal；
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