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68
He who loves； in being a soldier is not warlike。
He who loves； in fighting is not angry。
He who loves； in conquering does not grasp fo self。
He who loves； in employing men is lowly before them。
This is called Manifestation of non…greed。
It is called the power of using men。
It is called Unity with Heaven。
Of Old it was man's highest aim。
69
A great soldier used to say：
〃I plan not to be a Lord； but to be a follower； I plan not to advance an inch； but to recede a foot。
This is called：
Advancing with the advantage of Inner Life； baring the arm with the energy of Inner Life； grasping a weapon with the force of Inner Life； meeting the foe as a soldier of Inner Life。
There is no calamity greater than lightly to engage in war。
To engage lightly in war is to lose our treasure of gentleness。
Therefore； when soldiers meet who are equally strong；
He who is compassionate shall conquer。
70
My words are very easily known。
They are very easily practiced。
No one in the world can fully know them；
No one in the world can fully practice them。
My words come from one Source；
My service is to one Ruler。
The Master indeed knows the Inner Kingdom；
That is why he knows the negation of self。
Few there are who know the self。
Because they know it not； they prize the self。
That is why the self…controlled man wears wool。
But in his bosom are jewels。
71
To know that we are ignorant is a high attainment。
To be ignorant and to think we know is a defect。
The Master indeed can cure this defect。
That is why he has not this defect。
The self…controlled man has not this defect；
He takes hold of his defect and cures it。
That is why he has not this defect。
72
If the people do not dread majesty；
Then great majesty will come to them。
Let them guard the innermost of their dwellings；
Let them press towards the innermost of their life。
The Master indeed is not bound；
That is why he is not bound。
That is how the self…controlled man knows the Self and perceives the not…Self。
He loves the Self； and honours the not…Self。
Therefore he passes away from the latter and takes hold of the former。
73
A man with courage and daring is slain；
A man with courage and self…restraint lives。
Of these two； the one has benefit； the other has injury。
Who can tell why one of them should incur Heaven's Wrath？
Because of this the self…controlled man has doubt and difficulty。
Heavenly Tao strives not； but conquers by love；
It speaks not； but responds in Love；
It calls not to men； but of themselves they come；
It slowly is made manifest； yet its plans are laid in Love。
The net of Heaven is widely meshed； the meshes are far apart； yet nothing escapes from it。
74
If the people do not fear death；
How then can you frighten them by death？
But if you cause the people continually to fear death；
And if one of them becomes a great criminal；
Can you take hold of him and slay him？
Would you dare to this？
There is always one； the Executioner； who kills men。
But； on the contrary； if you kill as if you were Executioner；
It would be as if you tried to do the work of a Master Carpenter。
In attempting to do the work of a Master Carpenter；
Few there be who do not wound their own hands。
75
The people are hungry。
Because they who are over the food tax it heavily
That is why the people are hungry。
The people are difficult to govern。
Because the rulers trust in possessions and activities
That is why the people are difficult to govern。
The people make light of death。
Because they work hard in order to save their life；
That is why they make light of death。
A Master indeed is he whose life…activities are from within。
He excels all man in his application of Life。
76
In life； man is soft and tender；
In death； he is rigid and hard。
In life； plants and trees are soft and pliant；
In death； they are withered and tough。
Thus rigidity and hardness are companions of death。
Softness and tenderness are companions of life。
That is why the soldier who trusts only in strength does not conquer；
The tree that relies on its strength invites the axe。
Great strength dwells below；
Softness and tenderness dwell above。
77
Heavenly Tao is like the bending of a bow。
That which is high is bent downwards；
That which is low is raised up；
That which is too much is lessened；
That which is not enough is increased。
Heavenly Tao takes from those who have too much；
And gives to those who have not enough。
The way of man is not thus；
He takes from those who have not enough；
And gives to those who already have too much。
Who is able to hold his wealth in order to give it to men？
Only he who has the Tao。
That is why the self…controlled man acts without looking for reward； he brings to perfectness without claiming credit； he desires not to let his wosdom appear。
78
Of the soft and weak things in the world
None is weaker than water。
Bur in overcoming that which is firm and strong
Nothing can equal it。
It is easy to know the inner meaning of this： 〃That which is weak conquers the strong； that which is soft conquers the hard。〃
All men know this； No one is able to practice it。
That is why the self…controlled man says：
〃He who fears the reproach of the Kingdom is called Ruler of the Land。 He who bears the woes of the Kingdom is called King of the land。〃
True words in paradox。
79
To harmonize great enemies
We must possess that which far surpasses enmity。
We must be able to be at peace
In order to be active in Love。
That is why the self…controlled man holds the left…hand portion of the contract； but does not insist upon the other man producing his portion。
He who is virtuous may rule by a contract；
He whose virtue is within may rule by destroying it。
Akin to Heavenly Tao is Inner Life。
A constant giver is the man who loves。
80
Take a small kingdom and a few people；
Cause ten or a hundred of them to carry weapons；
But not to use them。
Cause the people to fear death；
Do not let them travel far；
Though they may have boats and carriages；
Let them use them only within the kingdom。
Though they may have soldiers in uniform；
Let them parade only within the kingdom。
Cause the people again to have knotted cords；
And to use them （instead of written characters）。
Their food would be sweet；
Their clothing would be beautiful in their own eyes；
Their dwellings would be resting…places；
They would love their simple ways。
If another kingdom were so near
That they could hear the sounds of dogs and fowls；
They would not come into mutual contact
Until they all grew old and died。
81
Faithful words