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So the Tao produces。 Its energy nourishes； increases； feeds； establishes； matures； controls； broods over。 It produces； but keeps nothing for itself； acts； but does not depend on its actions； increases； but does not insist on having its own way。 This indeed is the mystery of energy。
52
Everything has its origin in the mother of all under heaven
To know the mother the child must be perceived； the child being born the qualities of the mother must be maintained； to the end of life there will be no peril。
Close the doors of the senses； and the whole of life will be without care； open them； attend to the affairs of life and to the end deliverance will be impossible。
Perceive the germ； that is enlightenment。
Maintain weakness； that is stability。
Employ the light； revert to this enlightenment； no calamity will then be bequeathed to the body。
This is indeed to practice the unalterable。
53
When knowledge compels me to practice the supreme Tao； the danger lies in putting it into action。
The supreme Tao is a vast plain； yet the people prefer bypaths。 The palace is magnificent； but the fields are full of weeds； the granaries are empty； but elegant clothes are worn； sharp two…edged swords are carried； fastidiousness in eating and drinking is displayed； many useless things are amasses ？this is robbery and swaggering。
This is not the Tao！
54
Who plants well will not have his work uprooted； who embraces well will not lose what he holds； the offerings of his sons and grandsons will never end。
Who thus regulates himself has virtue which is genuine； who thus regulates his household has virtue which overflows； who thus regulates his neighbourhood has virtue which excels； who thus regulates the state has virtue which abounds； who thus regulates the world has virtue which is universal。
Therefore let every man prove himself； let each household； neighbourhood； and state do the same； let the world also follow the same course。
How do I know that it must be thus with the world？ By this same （which has just been said）。
55
Who cherishes energy in abundance is comparable to a child。 Poisonous insects will not sting him； fierce beasts will not seize him； birds of prey will not strike him。
His bones are weak； his sinews pliable； his grip firm； unconscious of sex； his virility is active ？the excellency of his physique。 He may cry all day without become hoarse ？this is the consummation of harmony。
Knowledge of harmony is called 揟he unalterable；？knowledge of the Unalterable is called 揑llumination。？br》 Increase of life is called infelicity； the resting of the mind in the vitality of forms is called animality。
The corporeal begins to age as it nears its prime。 This indeed is not the Tao。 What is not the Tao soon ends。
56
Who knows does not speak； who speaks does not know。
Close the doors of the senses； blunt the sharp； unravel the confused； harmonize the dazzling； become one with the all。 This is the Mystery of Unity。 There will then neither be love nor hate； profit not loss； favour or disgrace。 It follows that in the universe there is nothing nobler。
57
Rule the Empire with uprightness。 The Empire is won by non…concern。 How do I know this？ Thus： The more superstitious restrictions in the land the poorer the people； the more the people are concerned with the administration the more benighted the state and the clans； the more craftiness is displayed the greater the
number of novelties which arise。 The more legislation there is the more thieves and robbers increase。
It is for these reasons that a sage has said： 揑 do nothing； but the people spontaneously reform。 I love tranquility； and the people spontaneously become upright。 I have no concerns； and the people naturally grow wealthy。 I am without desire； and of their own free will the people revert to primitive simplicity。？br》
58
When the government is not in evidence the people are honest and loyal。
When the government is meddlesome the people are in want。
Misery！ Happiness lies by its side！ Happiness！ Misery lurks underneath。 He who understands the end has progressed beyond limitations。
The regular becomes irregular； the good becomes unpropitious。 This has bewildered men from time immemorial！
Hence the Holy Man is a square which has not been cut； and whose corners have not been planed； he is straightforward without being reckless； and bright without being dazzling。
59
For the regulation of mankind and the service of heaven nothing equals reserve power。 Reserve power means a speedy submission。 Speedy submission implies a rich store of energy。 A rich store of energy means the subjugation of everything。 Everything being subdued none knows his limits。 His limits being
unknown his sovereign power is assured； having the root of sovereignty which endures for long。
This may be described as a 揹eep taproot；？and a 揹urable peduncle；？？the perpetual vitality and continued manifestation of the Tao。
60
Govern a great state as you would fry a small fish。
Employ the Tao to establish the Empire and the daemons will display no energy； no that they are devoid of energy； but that they will not use it to man抯 detriment； （further） not only will man suffer no hurt from the daemons but he will not be injured by the sages。
When neither harm； the attributes of the Tao blend and converge。
61
A great country is lowly。 Everything under heaven blends with it。 It is like the female； which at all times and in every place overcomes the male by her quietude。 Than quietude there is nothing that is more lowly。
Therefore a great state gains the smaller state by yielding； while the smaller state wins the greater by submission。 In the one case lowliness gains adherents； in the other it procures favours。
For a strong state there is no safer ambition than to desire to gather men and care from them； and for the weaker state there is nothing better than the ambition to become an indispensable servant。
When each obtains what each desires the strongest should be the humblest。
62
The Tao has of all things the most honoured place。
It is the good man抯 treasure； and that which protects the bad man。
Its excellent words may be displayed before all。 Its noble deeds assist all men。
Why should a man be cast aside because he is bad？
Hence when the sovereign has been enthroned； and the chief ministers have been appointed； though one escorted by a team of horses； present the jade symbol of office； it would not equal the stilling of the heart； and entering this Tao。
What is the reason that this Tao has been held in such esteem from the beginning？ May we not say that is it because those who seek receive； and those who are guilty escape by its （help）？ Hence it becomes the most valued things under heaven。
63
Practice non…action。 Be concerned with non…concern。 Taste the flavourless。 Account the small as great； and the few as many。 For hatred return perfection。
Manipulate difficulties while they are easy。 Take in hand great things while they