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Next best is a leader who is loved。
Next； one who is feared。
The worst is one who is despised。
If you don't trust the people；
you make them untrustworthy。
The Master doesn't talk； he acts。
When his work is done；
the people say； 〃Amazing： we did it； all by ourselves！〃
18
When the great Tao is forgotten；
goodness and piety appear。
When the body's intelligence declines；
cleverness and knowledge step forth。
When there is no peace in the family；
filial piety begins。
When the country falls into chaos；
patriotism is born。
19
Throw away holiness and wisdom；
and people will be a hundred times happier。
Throw away morality and justice；
and people will do the right thing。
Throw away industry and profit；
and there won't be any thieves。
If these three aren't enough；
just stay at the center of the circle
and let all things take their course。
20
Stop thinking； and end your problems。
What difference between yes and no？
What difference between success and failure？
Must you value what others value；
avoid what others avoid？
How ridiculous！
Other people are excited；
as though they were at a parade。
I alone don't care；
I alone am expressionless；
like an infant before it can smile。
Other people have what they need；
I alone possess nothing。
I alone drift about；
like someone without a home。
I am like an idiot； my mind is so empty。
Other people are bright；
I alone am dark。
Other people are sharper；
I alone am dull。
Other people have a purpose；
I alone don't know。
I drift like a wave on the ocean；
I blow as aimless as the wind。
I am different from ordinary people。
I drink from the Great Mother's breasts。
21
The Master keeps her mind
always at one with the Tao；
that is what gives her her radiance。
The Tao is ungraspable。
How can her mind be at one with it？
Because she doesn't cling to ideas。
The Tao is dark and unfathomable。
How can it make her radiant？
Because she lets it。
Since before time and space were；
the Tao is。
It is beyond is and is not。
How do I know this is true？
I look inside myself and see。
22
If you want to become whole；
let yourself be partial。
If you want to become straight；
let yourself be crooked。
If you want to become full；
let yourself be empty。
If you want to be reborn；
let yourself die。
If you want to be given everything；
give everything up。
The Master； by residing in the Tao；
sets an example for all beings。
Because he doesn't display himself；
people can see his light。
Because he has nothing to prove；
people can trust his words。
Because he doesn't know who he is；
people recognize themselves in him。
Because he has no goad in mind；
everything he does succeeds。
When the ancient Masters said；
〃If you want to be given everything； give everything up；〃
they weren't using empty phrases。
Only in being lived by the Tao can you be truly yourself。
23
Express yourself completely；
then keep quiet。
Be like the forces of nature：
when it blows； there is only wind；
when it rains； there is only rain；
when the clouds pass； the sun shines through。
If you open yourself to the Tao；
you are at one with the Tao
and you can embody it completely。
If you open yourself to insight；
you are at one with insight
and you can use it completely。
If you open yourself to loss；
you are at one with loss
and you can accept it completely。
Open yourself to the Tao；
then trust your natural responses；
and everything will fall into place。
24
He who stands on tiptoe
doesn't stand firm。
He who rushes ahead
doesn't go far。
He who tries to shine
dims his own light。
He who defines himself
can't know who he really is。
He who has power over others
can't empower himself。
He who clings to his work
will create nothing that endures。
If you want to accord with the Tao； just do your job； then let go。
25
There was something formless and perfect
before the universe was born。
It is serene。 Empty。
Solitary。 Unchanging。
Infinite。 Eternally present。
It is the mother of the universe。
For lack of a better name；
I call it the Tao。
It flows through all things；
inside and outside； and returns
to the origin of all things。
The Tao is great。
The universe is great。
Earth is great。
Man is great。
These are the four great powers。
Man follows the earth。
Earth follows the universe。
The universe follows the Tao。
The Tao follows only itself。
26
The heavy is the root of the light。
The unmoved is the source of all movement。
Thus the Master travels all day
without leaving home。
However splendid the views；
she stays serenely in herself。
Why should the lord of the country
flit about like a fool？
If you let yourself be blown to and fro；
you lose touch with your root。
If you let restlessness move you；
you lose touch with who you are。
27
A good traveler has no fixed plans
and is not intent upon arriving。
A good artist lets his intuition
lead him wherever it wants。
A good scientist has freed himself of concepts
and keeps his mind open to what is。
Thus the Master is available to all people
and doesn't reject anyone。
He is ready to use all situations
and doesn't waste anything。
This is called embodying the light。
What is a good man but a bad man's teacher？
What is a bad man but a good man's job？
If you don't understand this； you will get lost；
however intelligent you are。
It is the great secret。
28
Know the male；
yet keep to the female：
receive the world in your arms。
If you receive the world；
the Tao will never leave you
and you will be like a little child。
Know the white；
yet keep to the black：
be a pattern for the world。
If you are a pattern for the world；
the Tao will be strong inside you
and there will be nothing you can't do。
Know the personal；
yet keep to the impersonal：
accept the world as it is。
If you accept the world；
the Tao will be luminous inside you
and you will return to your primal self。
The world is formed from the void；
like utensils from a block of wood。
The Master knows the utensils；
yet keeps to the the block：
thus she can use all things。
29
Do you want to improve the world？
I don't think it can be done。
The world is sacred。
It can't be improved。
If you tamper with it； you'll ruin it。
If you treat it like an object； you'll lose it。
There is a time for being ahead；
a time