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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 reaches of a river：
The place where all the streams of the world unite。
In the union of the world；
The female always gets the better of the male by stillness。
Being still； she takes the lower position。
Hence the large state； by taking the lower position； annexes the smallstate；
The small state； by taking the lower position； affiliates itself tothe large state。
Thus the one； by taking the lower position； annexes；
The other； by taking the lower position； is annexed。
All that the large state wants is to take the other under its wing；
All that the small state wants is to have its services accepted bythe other。
If each of the two wants to find its proper place；
It is meet that the large should take the lower position。
62
The way is the refuge for the myriad creatures。
It is that by which the good man protects；
And that by which the bad is protected。
Beautiful words when offered will win high rank in return；
Beautiful deeds can raise a man above others。
Even if a man is not good； why should he be abandoned？
Hence when the emperor is set up and the three ducal ministers are appointed；he who makes a present of the way without stirring from his seat is preferableto one who offers presents of jade disks followed by a team of four horses。
Why was this way valued of old？
Was it not said that by means of it one got what one wanted and escapedthe consequences when one transgressed？
Therefore it is valued by the empire。
63
Do that which consists in taking no action；
Pursue that which is not meddlesome；
Savor that which has no flavor。
Make the small big and the few many；
Do good to him who has done you an injury。
Lay plans for the accomplishment of the difficult before it becomesdifficult；
Make something big by starting with it when small。
Difficult things in the word must needs have their beginnings in theeasy；
Big things must needs have their beginnings in the small。
Therefore it is because the sage never attempts to be great that hesucceeds in becoming great。
One who makes promises rashly rarely keeps good faith；
One who is in the habit of considering things easy meets with frequentdifficulties。
Therefore even the sage treats some things as difficult。
That is why in the end no difficulties can get the better of him。
64
It is easy to maintain a situation while it is still secure；
It is easy to deal with a situation before symptoms develop；
It is easy to break a thing when it is yet brittle；
It is easy to dissolve a thing when it is yet minute。
Deal with a thing while it is still nothing；
Keep a thing in order before disorder sets in。
A tree that can fill the span of a man's arms
Grows from a downy tip；
A terrace nine storeys high
Rises from hodfuls of earth；
A journey of a thousand miles
Starts from beneath one's feet。
Whoever does anything to it will ruin it；
Whoever lays hold of it will lose it。
Therefore the sage； because he does nothing； never ruins anything；
And； because he does not lay hold of anything； loses nothing。
In their enterprises the people
Always ruin them when on the verge of success。
Be as careful at the end as at the beginning
And there will be no ruined enterprises。
Therefore the sage desires not to desire
And does not value goods which are hard to come by；
Learns to be without learning
And makes good the mistakes of the multitude
In order to help the myriad creatures to be natural and to refrainfrom daring to act。
65
Of old those who excelled in the pursuit of the way did not use itto enlighten the people but to hoodwink them。
The reason why the people are difficult to govern is that they aretoo clever。
Hence to rule a state by cleverness
Will be to the detriment of the state；
Not to rule a state by cleverness
Will be a boon to the state。
These two are models。
Always to know the models
Is known as mysterious virtue。
Mysterious virtue is profound and far…reaching；
But when things turn back it turns back with them。
Only then is complete conformity realized。
66
The reason why the River and the Sea are able to be king of the hundredvalleys is that they excel in taking the lower position。
Hence they are able to be king of the hundred valleys。
Therefore； desiring to rule over the people；
One must in one's words humble oneself before them；
And； desiring to lead the people；
One must； in one's person； follow behind them。
Therefore the sage takes his place over the people yet is no burden；
takes his place ahead of the people yet causes no obstruction。
That is why the empire supports him joyfully and never tires of doingso。
It is because he does not contend that no one in the empire is in aposition to contend with him。
67
The whole world says that my way is vast and resembles nothing。
It is because it is vast that it resembles nothing。
If it resembled anything； it would； long before now； have become small。
I have three treasures
Which I hold and cherish。
The first is known as compassion；
The second is known as frugality；
The third is known as not daring to take the lead in the empire；
Being compassionate one could afford to be courageous；
Being frugal one could afford to extend one's territory；
Not daring to take the lead in the empire one could afford to be lordover the vessels。
Now； to forsake compassion for courage； to forsake frugality for expansion；to forsake the rear for the lead； is sure to end in death。
Through compassion； one will triumph in attack and be impregnable indefence。
What heaven succours it protects with the gift of compassion。
68
One who excels as a warrior does not appear formidable；
One who excels in fighting is never roused in anger；
One who excels in defeating his enemy does not join issue；
One who excels in employing others humbles himself before them。
This is known as the virtue of non…contention；
This is known as making use of the efforts of others；
This is known as matching the sublimity of heaven。
69
The strategists have a saying；
I dare not play the host but play the guest；
I dare not advance an inch but retreat a foot instead。
This is known as marching forward when there is no road；
Rolling up one's sleeves when there is no arm；
Dragging one's adversary by force when there is no adversary；
And taking up arms when there are no arms。
There is no disaster greater than taking on an enemy too easily。
So doing nearly cost me my treasure。
Thus of two sides raising arms against each other；
It is the one that is sorrow…stricken that wins。
70
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