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sdom。
Because those knowing much are not sure of the goal and hard to lead。
One who tries to advance men by increasing their learning only leads them to perdition。
One who increases their wisdom serves their liberation。
One who considers both is a pointer to the goal and a model。
To be a pointer to the goal means to be a carrier of virtue。
Teh the fullness of virtue wells up from the depth flowing far surmounts ignorance and resistance leading all life to the sea of fulfillment。
66
The reason why streams and seas rule over rivers and brooks is that they are taking a low position。
Thus they remain lords of abundance。
Likewise the Sage：
He becomes a model for others by keeping in the background。
He leads them upward by keeping glow。
Thus he accomplishes outstanding things without being prominent and produces harmony without causing injury。
Because he does not oppress anybody everybody presses on to him because he is untiring one does not tire of him。
And because he is a master of non…action devoted to all nobody can harm him。
67
The world calls my TAO great but myself insignificant。
Yes： the clearer TAO manifests the more meaningless the ego becomes。
Worth nothing and without duration is he who wants to rate and be of importance。
Three treasures I guard which endure： the first is compassion the second frugality the third modesty。
Compassion makes me brave frugality generous modesty a carrier of the eternal。
Today the inconsiderate is called brave the spendthrift generous the go…getter progressive 。。。。
They are progressing away from the essential thing toward decay toward death while the compassionate conquer through gentleness remaining in existence through non…resistance。
Heaven fills with compassion those it wants to preserve。
68
A good manager manages without force a god fighter wins without fighting a good conqueror conquers without struggle a good user of men controls without constraint。
Such is the virtue of non…resistance such is the art of resolving through moderation。
Such is： being like heaven the highest goal of all times。
69
A man experienced in the struggle for life knows：
Better it is to yield thoughtfully than to provoke thoughtlessly。
Better it is to retreat a foot than to advance an inch。
That is what I call：
To go forward without pushing forward。
To capture without taking。
To hold without keeping。
To conquer without defeating。
He acts disastrously who attacks wantonly since it is easy to tackle and overcome a man who is an advocate of force。
Where two clash the more thoughtful is the victor。
70
My words are easy to understand still easier to practice and yet they are seldom understood still more seldom practiced。
My words originate in the primordial source and follow the primordial law。
One who does not know this misjudges me。
It is to my honor that few there are who recognize me and understand me。
An awakened man does not shine outside but inside he is Light。
71
Recognizing one's ignorance is wisdom Not recognizing it and believing that one knows is sickness。
To be tired of this sickness means to be rid of it。
The Sage is free from sickness because he is tired of ignorance。
Therein lies his freedom。
72
Where reverence disappears among men fear is growing。
Let them therefore self…conscious live in themselves。
Let them awake to their essence strive for the inner life。
Then they will move from the narrowness of the ego into the wide expanse of the Self。
Likewise the Awakened Man：
He knows the Self and puts his ego in the second place。
He loves the Self and thinks little of his ego。
Because he does not hold his ego in high esteem he is upheld by the Highest the Self。
73
Courage that swells to arrogance and recklessness ends in death。
Courage that wells up from humbleness and gentleness leads to life。
One brings disaster the other liberation。
Yet who pays attention to how heaven evaluates him？
The Sage considers the consequences and follows the way of the TAO。
TAO rules without force commands without commands calls without calls acts without deeds。
Its net of destiny is wide…meshed yet all…embracing and nothing slips through
74
When people are not afraid of death why threaten them with death？
And when an evil deed is threatened with death who would judge and put to death？
Only one decides about life and death。
He who judges and kills in his place resembles a blind man who wields a hatchet in place of the carpenter and wounds himself。
75
The people are worn out and wasting away because the authorities use and consume too much。
Therefore the misery of the people。
The people are undisciplined and unruly because the authorities are disciplining and ruling too much。
Therefore the unruliness of the people。
The people take death lightly because the authorities make life hard for them。
Therefore the indifference of the people。
He will guide more wisely and easily who orders and administers less letting the inner order of life prevail。
76
Man is soft and supple when he is born rigid hard and stiff when he dies。
Grasses and trees are pliant yielding and tender while they are growing dry hard and strong when they disbecome。
That is why rigidity and strength pertain to death softness and tenderness； to life。
One who relies on strength does not conquer。
A strong tree is cut down first。
The strong and hard go down the soft and tender rise。
77
The way of heaven is like that of an archer：
Without tension he draws his bow so that above approaches below。
He avoids what is unnecessary the ego…effort。
Releasing the arrow he lets the Tao…power take over。
Likeness of heaven whose equanimity equalizes all things。
The way of men is different：
Greedily they increase want and lock abundance out。
The Sage instead possessing Tao accomplishes his work bringing completion to all。
Because he does not hold and retain anything he become a vessel of abundance。
Because he wants to be only a mediator he becomes the center of everything。
78
Nothing in the world is softer nothing more yielding than water and yet it overcomes the hard and rigid。
Nothing equals it in that。
Everybody knows：
The soft overcomes the hard the yielding； the rigid and strong。
Yet no one acts accordingly。
A Sage； however； knows and proves it：
He who takes upon himself the suffering of others is their leader。
He who saves others from trouble is the one who is saved。
Truth lies in the paradox。
79
When a great feud is settled a grudge often remains。
How can it be disspelled？
By putting helping before demanding。
The Sage respects the rights of others practicing putting…up…with getting…along…with； and sharing。
An unwise man knows only demanding and insists on treaties and a