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ed by weapons when charging into an army。
There is nowhere for the rhinoceros to pitch its horn；
There is nowhere for the tiger to place its claws；
There is nowhere for the weapon to lodge its blade。
Why is this so？ Because for him there is no realm of death。
51
The way gives them life；
Virtue rears them；
Things give them shape；
Circumstances bring them to maturity。
Therefore the myriad creatures all revere the way and honor virtue。
Yet the way is revered and virtue honored not because this is decreedby any authority but because it is natural for them to be treated so。
Thus the way gives them life and rears them；
Brings them up and nurses them；
Brings them to fruition and maturity；
Feeds and shelters them。
It gives them life yet claims no possession；
It benefits them yet exacts no gratitude；
It is the steward yet exercises no authority。
Such is called the mysterious virtue。
52
The world had a beginning
And this beginning could be the mother of the world。
When you know the mother
Go on to know the child。
After you have known the child
Go back to holding fast to the mother；
And to the end of your days you will not meet with danger。
Block the openings；
Shut the doors；
And all your life you will not run dry。
Unblock the openings；
Add to your troubles；
And to the end of your days you will be beyond salvation。
To see the small is called discernment；
To hold fast to the submissive is called strength。
Use the light
But give up the discernment。
Bring not misfortune upon yourself。
This is known as following the constant。
53
Were I possessed of the least knowledge； I would； when walking on thegreat way； fear only paths that lead astray。
The great way is easy； yet people prefer by…paths。
The court is corrupt；
The fields are overgrown with weeds；
The granaries are empty；
Yet there are those dressed in fineries；
With swords at their sides；
Filled with food and drink；
And possessed of too much wealth。
This is known as taking the lead in robbery。
Far indeed is this from the way。
54
What is firmly rooted cannot be pulled out；
What is tightly held in the arms will not slip loose；
Through this the offering of sacrifice by descendants will never cometo an end。
Cultivate it in your person
And its virtue will be genuine；
Cultivate it in the family
And its virtue will be more than sufficient；
Cultivate it in the hamlet
And its virtue will endure；
Cultivate it in the state
And its virtue will abound；
Cultivate it in the empire
And its virtue will be pervasive。
Hence look at the person through the person；
Look at the family through the family；
Look at the hamlet through the hamlet；
Look at the state through the state；
Look at the empire through the empire。
How do I know that the empire is like that？
By means of this。
55
One who possesses virtue in abundance is comparable to a new born babe：
Poisonous insects will not sting it；
Ferocious animals will not pounce on it；
Predatory birds will not swoop down on it。
Its bones are weak and its sinews supple yet its hold is firm。
It does not know the union of male and female yet its male member willstir：
This is because its virility is at its height。
It howls all day yet does not become hoarse：
This is because its harmony is at its height。
To know harmony is called the constant；
To know the constant is called discernment。
To try to add to one's vitality is called ill…omened；
For the mind to egg on the breath is called violent。
A creature in its prime doing harm to the old
Is known as going against the way。
That which goes against the way will come to an early end。
56
One who knows does not speak；
One who speaks does not know。
Block the openings；
Shut the doors。
Blunt the sharpness；
Untangle the knots；
Soften the glare；
Let your wheels move only along old ruts。
This is known as mysterious sameness。
Hence you cannot get close to it； nor can you keep it at arm's length；
You cannot bestow benefit on it； nor can you do it harm；
You cannot ennoble it； nor can you debase it。
Therefore it is valued by the empire。
57
Govern the state by being straightforward；
Wage war by being crafty；
But win the empire by not being meddlesome。
How do I know that it is like that？
By means of this。
The more taboos there are in the empire
The poorer the people；
The more sharpened tools the people have
The more benighted the state；
The more skills the people have
The further novelties multiply；
The better known the laws and edicts
The more thieves and robbers there are。
Hence the sage says；
I take no action and the people are transformed of themselves；
I prefer stillness and the people are rectified of themselves；
I am not meddlesome and the people prosper of themselves；
I am free from desire and the people of themselves become simple likethe uncarved block。
58
When the government is muddled
The people are simple；
When the government is alert
The people are cunning。
It is on disaster that good fortune perches；
It is beneath good fortune that disaster crouches。
Who knows the limit？ Does not the straightforward exist？
The straighforward changes again into the crafty； and the good changesagain into the monstrous。
Indeed； it is long since the people were perplexed。
Therefore the sage is square…edged but does not scrape；
Has corners but does not jab；
Extends himself but not at the expense of others；
Shines but does not dazzle。
59
In ruling the people and in serving heaven it is best for a ruler tobe sparing。
It is because he is sparing
That he may be said to follow the way from the start；
Following the way from the start he may be said to accumulate an abundanceof virtue；
Accumulating an abundance of virtue there is nothing he cannot overcome；
When there is nothing he cannot overcome； no one knows his limit；
When no one knows his limit
He can possess a state；
When he possesses the mother of a state
He can then endure。
This is called the way of deep roots and firm stems by which one livesto see many days。
60
Governing a large state is like boiling a small fish。
When the empire is ruled in accordance with the way；
The spirits lose their potencies。
Or rather； it is not that they lose their potencies；
But that； though they have their potencies； they do not harm the people。
It is not only they who； having their potencies； do not harm the people；
The sage； also； does not harm the people。
As neither does any harm； each attributes the merit to the other。
61
A large state is the lower rea