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63
Do without 〃doing〃。
Work without forcing。
Taste without seasonings。
Recognize the Great in the small；
And the many in the few。
Repay hatred with kindness。
Dea with the difficult while it is stil easy。
Begin great works while they are small。
Certainly the Earth does difficult work with ease；
And accomplishes great affairs from smal beginnings。
So； the Sage； by not striving for greatness；
Achieves greatness。
A person who makes promises lightly
Is not regarded as trustworthy。
lIf you think everything is easy；
You will find only difficulty。
That is why the Sage considers All things difficult
And finds nothing too difficult in the end。
64
What is at rest is easy to maintain。
What has not yet happened is easy to plan。
That which is fragile is easily shattered
That which is tiny is easily scattered。
Correct problems before they occur。
Intervene before chaos erupts。
A tree too big around to hug is produced from a tiny sprout。
A nine…story tower begins with a mound of dirt。
A thousand…mile journey begins with your own two feet。
Whoever tries will fail。
Whoever clutches； loses。
Therefore the Sage； not trying； cannot fail
Not clutching； she cannot lose。
When people try；
They usually fail just on the brink of success。
If one is as cautious at the outset as at the end；
One cannot fail。
Therefore the Sage desires nothing so much
as to be desireless。
She does not value rare and expensive goods。
She unlearns what she was once taught
And helps the people regain what they have lost；
To help every being assume its natura way of being；
And not dare to force anything。
65
In ancient times those who followed the Tao
Did not try to educate the people。
They chose to let them be。
The reason people become hard to govern
Is that they think they know it all。
So； if a leader tries to lead through cleverness；
He is nothing but a liability。
But if a leader leads； not through cleverness； but
through goodness； this is a blessing to all。
To be always conscious of the Great Pattern
Is a spiritua virtue。
Spiritua virtue is awesome and infinite
And it leads All things back to their Source。
Then there emerges the Great Harmony。
66
Rivers and the sea are able to rule the streams of a hundred valleys。
Because they are good at taking the lower position；
The streams of a hundred valleys run to them。
Therefore； if you want to rule effectively over people
You must surely speak as if below them。
If you want to lead well；
You must surely walk behind them。
That way when the Sage takes a position of power
The people will not fee oppressed。
And when the Sage leads
The people will not think he is in the way。
Therefore the whole world joyfully praises him
and does not tire of him。
Because he refuses to compete；
The world cannot compete with him。
67
Everyone says this Tao of mine is great and nebulous。
So great； in fact； that it is too nebulous
To be of any use。
I have three treasures that I hold and cherish：
One is called 〃compassion〃
Another is called 〃moderation〃
And the third is called 〃daring not to compete。〃
With compassion； one is able to be brave。
With moderation； one has enough to be generous with others。
Without competition； one is fit to lead。
Nowadays people don't bother with compassion But just try to be brave。
They scoff at moderation
And find they have little enough for themselves。
They step on people in their rush to be first…
This is death！
One who is compassionate in warfare is victorious
And in defense he holds fast。
When Heaven moves to save someone
It protects him through compassion。
68
The best soldier is not violent。
The best fighter is not driven by anger。
The true conqueror wins without confrontation。
The best employer is humble before his employees。
I say there is much good in not competing。
I call it using the power of the people。
This is known as being in tune with Heaven； Like the Sages of old。
69
The military has a saying：
〃I would rather be passive； like a guest
than aggressive； like a host。
I would rather retreat a foot
than advance an inch。〃
This is called going forward without instigating；
Engaging without force
Defense without hatred
Victory without weapons。
There is no greater calamity than underestimating the enemy。
If I take my enemy too lightly； I am in danger of losing my
compassion； moderation and non…competitive spirit。
So； when two armies confront each other
Victory will go to them that grieve。
70
My words are very easy to understand
And very easy to practice。
Yet the World is not able to understand
Nor able to put them into practice。
My words speak of the primal。
My deeds are but service。
Unless people understand this
They won't understand me。
And since so few understand me；
Then such understanding is rare and valuable indeed。
Therefore the Sage wears common clothes
And hides his treasures only in his heart。
71
She who knows that she does not know is the best off。
He who pretends to know but doesn't is ill。
Only someone who realizes he is ill can become whole。
The sage is not il because she recognizes this illness as illness；
Therefore she is not ill。
72
When people lose their fear of power
Then great power has indeed arrived。
Do not intrude on the people's materia living。
Do not despise their spiritua lives； either。
If you respect them； you will be respected。
Therefore the Sage knows himself；
But he is not opinionated。
He loves himself； but he is not arrogant。
He lets go of conceit and opinion； and embraces self…knowledge and
love。
73
A soldier who has the courage to fight will eventually be killed。
But one who has the courage not to fight will live。
In these two； one is good and the other harmful。
Who knows why Heaven allows some things to happen？
Even the Sage is stumped sometimes。
The Way of Heaven Does not compete； but is good at winning；
Does not speak； yet always responds；
Does not demand； but is usually obeyed；
Seems chaotic； but unfolds a most excellent plan。
Heaven's net is cast wide
And though its meshes are loose；
Nothing is ever lost。
74
If people do not fear death
How can you threaten them with it？
If people live in constant fear of death；
Because those who break the law are seized and killed；
Who would dare to break the law？
There has always been an officia executioner。
If you take the law into your own hands
And try to take his place； It is like trying to take the place of a
master carpenter
In which case you would probably hurt yo