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For the weak are raw material to the strong。
If the guide is not respected；
Or the material is not cared for；
Confusion will result； no matter how clever one is。
This is the secret of perfection：
When raw wood is carved； it becomes a tool；
When a man is employed； he becomes a tool；
The perfect carpenter leaves no wood to be carved。
28
Becoming
Using the male； being female；
Being the entrance of the world；
You embrace harmony
And become as a newborn。
Using strength； being weak；
Being the root of the world；
You complete harmony
And become as unshaped wood。
Using the light； being dark；
Being the world；
You perfect harmony
And return to the Way。
29
Ambition
Those who wish to change the world
According with their desire
Cannot succeed。
The world is shaped by the Way；
It cannot be shaped by the self。
Trying to change it； you damage it；
Trying to possess it； you lose it。
So some will lead； while others follow。
Some will be warm； others cold
Some will be strong； others weak。
Some will get where they are going
While others fall by the side of the road。
So the sage will be neither wasteful nor violent。
30
Violence
Powerful men are well advised not to use violence；
For violence has a habit of returning；
Thorns and weeds grow wherever an army goes；
And lean years follow a great war。
A general is well advised
To achieve nothing more than his orders：
Not to take advantage of his victory。
Nor to glory； boast or pride himself；
To do what is dictated by necessity；
But not by choice。
For even the strongest force will weaken with time；
And then its violence will return； and kill it。
31
Armies
Armies are tools of violence；
They cause men to hate and fear。
The sage will not join them。
His purpose is creation；
Their purpose is destruction。
Weapons are tools of violence；
Not of the sage；
He uses them only when there is no choice；
And then calmly； and with tact；
For he finds no beauty in them。
Whoever finds beauty in weapons
Delights in the slaughter of men；
And who delights in slaughter
Cannot content himself with peace。
So slaughters must be mourned
And conquest celebrated with a funeral。
32
Shapes
The Way has no true shape；
And therefore none can control it。
If a ruler could control the Way
All things would follow
In harmony with his desire；
And sweet rain would fall；
Effortlessly slaking every thirst。
The Way is shaped by use；
But then the shape is lost。
Do not hold fast to shapes
But let sensation flow into the world
As a river courses down to the sea。
33
Virtues
Who understands the world is learned；
Who understands the self is enlightened。
Who conquers the world has strength；
Who conquers the self has harmony。
Who is determined has purpose；
Who is contented has wealth。
Who defends his home may long endure；
Who surrenders his home may long survive it。
34
Control
The Way flows and ebbs； creating and destroying；
Implementing all the world； attending to the tiniest details；
Claiming nothing in return。
It nurtures all things；
Though it does not control them；
It has no intention；
So it seems inconsequential。
It is the substance of all things；
Though it does not control them；
It has no exception；
So it seems all…important。
The sage would not control the world；
He is in harmony with the world。
35
Peace
If you offer music and food
Strangers may stop with you；
But if you accord with the Way
All the people of the world will keep you
In safety； health； community； and peace。
The Way lacks art and flavour；
It can neither be seen nor heard；
But its benefit cannot be exhausted。
36
Opposition
To reduce someone's influence； first expand it；
To reduce someone's force； first increase it；
To overthrow someone； first exalt them；
To take from someone； first give to them。
This is the subtlety by which the weak overcome the strong：
Fish should not leave their depths；
And swords should not leave their scabbards。
37
Tranquility
The Way takes no action； but leaves nothing undone。
When you accept this
The world will flourish；
In harmony with nature。
Nature does not possess desire；
Without desire； the heart becomes quiet；
In this manner the whole world is made tranquil。
38
Ritual
Well established hierarchies are not easily uprooted；
Closely held beliefs are not easily released；
So ritual enthralls generation after generation。
Harmony does not care for harmony； and so is naturally attained；
But ritual is intent upon harmony； and so can not attain it。
Harmony neither acts nor reasons；
Love acts； but without reason；
Justice acts to serve reason；
But ritual acts to enforce reason。
When the Way is lost； there remains harmony；
When harmony is lost； there remains love；
When love is lost； there remains justice；
But when justice is lost； there remains ritual。
Ritual is the end of compassion and honesty；
The beginning of confusion；
Belief is a colourful hope or fear；
The beginning of folly。
The sage goes by harmony； not by hope；
He dwells in the fruit； not the flower；
He accepts substance； and ignores abstraction。
39
Support
In mythical times all things were whole：
All the sky was clear；
All the earth was stable；
All the mountains were firm；
All the riverbeds were full；
All of nature was fertile；
And all the rulers were supported。
But； losing clarity； the sky tore；
Losing stability； the earth split；
Losing strength； the mountains sank；
Losing water； the riverbeds cracked；
Losing fertility； nature disappeared；
And losing support； the rulers fell。
Rulers depend upon their subjects；
The noble depend upon the humble；
So rulers call themselves orphaned； hungry and alone；
To win the people's support。
40
Motion and Use
The motion of the Way is to return；
The use of the Way is to accept；
All things come from the Way；
And the Way comes from nothing。
41
Following
When the great man learns the Way； he follows it with diligence；
When the common man learns the Way； he follows it on occasion；
When the mean man learns the Way； he laughs out loud；
Those who do not laugh； do not learn at all。
Therefore it is said：
Who understands the Way seems foolish；
Who progresses on the Way seems to fail；
Who follows the Way seems to wander。
For the finest harmony appears plain；
The brightest truth appears coloured；
The richest character appears incomplete；
The bravest