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When most hear Tao； they halfway believe it。
When the foolish hear Tao； they laugh out loud。
If the foolish don't laugh； it is not Tao。
As the proverbs say：
The way to the light often looks dark。
The road ahead often means backtracking。
The smoothest path often seems rough。
The greatest goodness appears empty。
The greatest power appears inadequate。
The greatest strength appears frail。
The greatest square has no corners。
The greatest music has the faintest notes。
The greatest model has no shape。
42
From Tao came the one。
》From one came heaven and earth。
》From heaven and earth came all things。
All things carry light in front and dark in back。
Some things even gain by losing and lose by gaining。
But truly； if you live by the sword； you will die by the sword。
43
43。 The softest thing in the world can overcome the hardest。
The shapeless can penetrate the seamless。
Thus I know the value of not acting。
Few understand the wordless teaching of non…action。
44
Fame or self： Which matters more？
Self or wealth： Which is more precious？
Gain or loss： Which is more harmful？
The more that things are desired； the more they will cost。
The more that things are kept； the more they will be missed。
If you are content with yourself； no one can deprive you。
Know when to stop； and you will never run into danger。
45
Perfection seems flawed； but it remains useful。
The greatest vessel seems empty； but it is inexhaustible。
Movement overcomes cold； stillness overcomes agitation。
Stillness creates order in the universe。
46
When we live with Tao； the horses till the fields。
When we live without Tao； the horses line the battlefields。
There is no greater sin than desire；
no greater curse than discontent；
no greater disaster than greed。
Know the satisfaction of simply being content。
47
Without leaving your door； you can know the whole world。
Without looking out the window； you can see the way of nature。
The more you seek it； the less you know about it。
The sage knows without seeking；
sees without looking；
accomplishes without doing。
48
The student of knowledge acquires day by day。
The student of Tao loses day by day。
Less and less； until nothing is done。
Do nothing； and everything is done。
The world is ruled by letting things take their course。
It cannot be ruled by interfering。
49
The sage has no mind of his own。
All minds are the sage's mind。
I approve the good； and I approve the bad。
I believe the truthful； and I believe the liar。
The sage's mind is a harmonious whole。
50
Between birth and death：
A third die naturally；
a third die non…naturally；
and a third die speeding to death； striving after life。
Truly； if you take care of yourself；
you will never be eaten by tigers or wolves。
Why？ Because inside you there is no room for death。
51
All things are born from Tao。
They are reared by power。
Matter forms them。
Environment shapes them。
Therefore all things worship Tao and exalt power。
Worshiping Tao and exalting power are not required； only natural。
Tao bears them； power rears them；
developed and cared for；
sheltered and comforted；
grown and protected。
It produces all but possesses none；
provides everything and takes nothing；
guides all and interferes with none。
52
Tao is the mother of the universe。
Know the mother； and you know her children。
Know the children； but keep to the mother；
and you will never die。
Close the mouth； guard your senses； and your strength never fails。
Open the mouth； meddle with affairs； and entanglements never cease。
Seeing the small is insight； holding to weakness is strength。
Use the light； return to insight； this is learning to be eternal。
53
With even just a scrap of sense； I can walk the Great Way。
The great way is easy to travel on； but we all love to get sidetracked。
We keep elegant palaces and desolate farms；
Our storehouses are meager while fashions abound。
Our swords are sharp； but our senses are dull。
We all have more than we need； who have we taken it from？
54
What Tao plants； cannot be plucked。
What Tao clasps； cannot slip away。
By its power； each generation buries its dead。
By its power you become genuine。
55
Powerful people seem like infants：
Their bones are weak； but their grip is firm。
They are like innocent babies；
getting so turned on； because they have so much power。
They can yell all day long and never lose their voice；
because they have inner harmony。
Harmony is eternal。 A raging mind is discordant。
56
Those who know do not speak；
those who speak do not know。
This is all； merged in one。
57
Win by not acting。
The more prohibitions； the poorer we become。
The sharper the weapons；
the more troubled the nation。
The more clever we are； the stranger things become。
The more laws； the more crooks。
58
When the nation is ruled with a light hand；
The people are simple。
When the nation is ruled harshly；
The people are cunning。
The sage is sharp but not cutting；
pointed but not piercing；
straightforward but not unrestrained；
bright but not glittery。
59
A ruler in accord with Tao would give up everything。
Giving up everything means returning to the source。
Returning to the source is like sending out deep firm roots。
60
Rule a great nation like you would fry a small fish。
Rule with Tao and evil will have no power。
It is not that evil is not powerful；
it is that its power can no longer be used to harm people。
Then evil will not interfere； as the sage does not interfere。
When opposites no longer harm each other； both are in accord with Tao。
61
A great nation is low； like a river delta；
where all the waters gather。
It is mother of the world。
The female overcomes the male with stillness；
Becomes the foundation by being still。
Thus a great nation should always place itself below a small one。
62
Tao is the storehouse of all things。
It is a treasure to the good； and a refuge for the bad。
Thus； for a gift： Offer Tao。
Why did the ancients revere it？
Because it is there for all。
63
Tao makes the big small； and the many； few。
The difficult always starts out easy；
the great always starts out trivial。
The sage sees everything as difficult； and lives totally at ease。
64
What remains quiet； is easy to hold。
Adapt to things as they happen。
The tallest tree begins as a tiny sprout；
the highest monument； as a clod of dirt；
the longest journey； with a first step。
Failure often happens on the verge of success；
truly he