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9
Hubris
Stretch a bow to its limit and it is soon broken；
Temper a blade to its sharpest and it is soon blunted；
Amass the greatest treasure and it is soon stolen；
Claim credit and honour and you will soon fall；
Retire once your purpose is acheived … this is the way of Nature。
10
Love
Embracing Tao； you become embraced。
Supple； breathing gently； you become reborn。
Clearing your vision； you become clear。
Nurturing your beloved； you become impartial。
Opening your heart； you become accepted。
Accepting the World； you embrace Tao。
Bearing and nurturing；
Creating but not owning；
Giving without demanding；
Controlling without authority；
This is love。
11
Wealth and Worth
Thirty spokes meet at a nave；
Because of the hole we may use the wheel。
Clay is moulded into a vessel；
Because of the hollow we may use the cup。
Walls are built around a hearth
Because of the doors we may use the house。
Thus wealth comes from what is；
But worth from what is not。
12
Distraction
Too much color blinds the eye
Too much tone deafens the ear
Too much taste dulls the palate
Too much play maddens the mind
Too much desire tears the heart。
The sage provides for the belly； not for the senses；
He lets go of sensation and accepts substance。
13
Anxiety
The saints said： 〃Praise and blame cause anxiety；
The objects of hope and fear are within your Self。〃
〃Praise and blame cause anxiety〃
For you must hope and fear to receive or to lose them。
〃The objects of hope and fear are within your Self〃
For； without Self； neither fortune nor disaster can befall。
Therefore：
He who regards the World as the Self is able to control the World；
He who loves the World as the Self is able to nurture the World。
14
The Continuity of Tao
Looked at but cannot be seen … it is beyond form；
Listened to but cannot be heard … it is beyond sound；
Grasped at but cannot be touched … it is beyond reach；
These depthless things evade definition；
And blend into a single mystery。
In its rising there is no light；
In its falling there is no darkness；
A continuous thread beyond description；
Lining what can not exist；
Its form formless；
Its image nothing；
Its name mystery；
Meet it； it has no face；
Follow it； it has no back。
Understand the past； but attend the present；
In this way you know the continuity of Tao；
Which is its essence。
15
The Saints
The Saints had understanding
So profound they can not be understood。
Because they cannot be understood
I can only describe their appearance：
Cautious； like one crossing thin ice；
Hesitant； like one who fears danger；
Modest； like one who is a guest；
Smooth； like melting ice；
Genuine； like unshaped wood；
Empty； like a riverbed；
Opaque； like muddy water。
He who can lie still while the mud settles；
And remain still until the water flows
Does not seek fulfillment
And transcends Nature。
16
Transcending Nature
Empty the Self completely；
Embrace perfect peace。
The World will rise and move；
Watch it return to rest。
All the flourishing things
Will return to their source。
This return is peaceful；
It is the way of Nature；
An eternal decay and renewal。
Understanding this brings enlightenment；
Ignorance of this brings misery。
Who understands Nature's way becomes all…cherishing；
Being all…cherishing he becomes impartial；
Being impartial he becomes magnanimous；
Being magnanimous he becomes part of Nature；
Being part of Nature he becomes one with Tao；
Being one with Tao he becomes immortal：
Though his body will decay； Tao will not。
17
Rulers
The best rulers are scarcely known by their subjects；
The next best are loved and praised；
The next are feared；
The next despised：
They have no faith in their subjects；
So their subjects become unfaithful to them。
When the best rulers acheive their purpose
Their subjects claim the acheivement as their own。
18
Loss of Tao
When Tao is forgotten
Duty and justice arise；
Then wisdom and sagacity are born
Along with hypocrisy。
When family relationships dissolve
Then respect and devotion arise；
When a nation falls to chaos
Then loyalty and patriotism are born。
19
Simplicity
If we could discard wisdom and sagacity
Then people would profit a hundredfold；
If we could discard duty and justice
Then loving relationships would form；
If we could discard artifice and profit
Then corruption and theft would disappear …
Yet such remedies treat only symptoms
And so they are inadequate。
People need personal remedies：
Reveal your naked Self；
Embrace your original nature；
Bind your self…interest；
Control your desire。
20
Oneness
I know nothing and nothing troubles me。
I see no difference between yes and no。
I see no difference between good and evil。
I do not fear what the people fear in the night。
The people are merry as if at a magnificent party
Or playing in the park at springtime；
But I am tranquil and wandering；
Like a newborn before it learns to smile；
Lonely； with no true home。
The people have enough and to spare；
But I have nothing；
And my heart is foolish；
Muddled and cloudy。
The people are bright and certain；
Where I am dim and confused；
The people are clever and wise；
Where I am dull and ignorant；
Aimless as a wave drifting over the sea；
Attached to nothing。
The people are busy with purpose；
Where I am impractical and rough。
I am apart from all other people
Yet I am sustained by Nature； their mother。
21
Expressions of Tao
Love is expressed by following Tao。
Tao is evasive and intangible
But expresses all form and substance；
Tao is dark and subtle
But expresses all of Nature；
Nature is unchanging；
But expresses all sensation。
Since before knowledge
Tao has expressed these things。
How do I know？
By faith in my senses。
22
Acceptance and Contention
Accept and you become whole；
Bend and you straighten；
Empty and you fill；
Decay and you renew；
Want and you acquire；
Fulfill and you become confused。
The sage accepts the World
As the World accepts Tao；
He does not display himself； so is clearly seen；
Does not justify himself； so is famed；
Does not boast； so is credited；
Does not glory； so excels；
Does not contend； so no one contends against him。
The saints said； 〃Accept and you become whole〃；
Once whole； the World is as your home。
23
Talk and Trust
Nature says only