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People commonly ruin their work When they are near success。 Proceed at the end as at the beginning And your work won't be ruined。
Therefore the Sage Desires no desires Prizes no prizes Studies no studies And returns To what others pass by。 The Sage Helps all beings find their nature； But does not presume to act。
65
Taoist rulers of old Did not enlighten people But left them dull。
People are difficult to govern Because they are very clever。 Therefore； Ruling through cleverness leads to rebellion。 Not leading through cleverness Brings good fortune。
Know these two things And understanding the enduring pattern。 Understand the enduring pattern： This is called original Te。
Original Te goes deep and far。 All things reverse Return And reach the great headwaters。
66
Rivers and seas Can rule the hundred valleys Because they are good at lying low They are lords of the valleys。
Therefore those who would be above Must speak as if they are below Those who would lead Must speak as if they are behind。
In this way the Sage dwells above And the people are not burdened。 Dwells in front And they are not hindered。 Therefore the whole world Is delighted and unwearied。
Since the Sage does not contend No one can contend with the Sage。
67
Everyone under heaven calls my Tao great； and unlike anything else。 It is great only because It is unlike anything else。 If it were like anything else It would stretch and become thin。
I have three treasures to maintain and conserve： the first is compassion。 The second is frugality。 The third is not presuming To be first under heaven。
Compassion leads to courage。 Frugality allows generosity。 Not presuming to be first Creates a lasting instrument。
Nowadays； People reject compassion But want to be brave； Reject frugality But want to be generous； Reject humility And want to come first。 This is death。
Compassion： Attack with it and win。 Defend with it and stand firm。 Heaven aids and protects Through compassion。
68
The accomplished person is not aggressive。 The good soldier is not hot tempered。
The best conqueror does not engage the enemy。 The most effective leader takes the lowest place。
This is called the Te of not contending。 This is called the power of the leader。 This is called matching Heaven's ancient ideal。
69
There is a saying in the army： I do not presume to be the master； But become the guest。 I do not dare advance an inch； but retreat a foot。
This is called moving without moving； rolling up sleeves without showing your arms； Repelling without opposing； Wielding without a weapon。
There is no disaster greater than Contempt for the enemy。
Contempt for the enemy … what a treasure is lost！ Therefore； When the fighting gets hot； Those who grieve will conquer。
70
My words are very easy to understand； Very easy to practice。 No one under heaven can understand them； No one can practice them。
Words have ancestors； Deeds have masters。 If people don't understand this； They don't understand me。 Few understand me； And that is my value。
Therefore the Sage wears rough clothing And carries Jade inside。
71
Know not…knowing： supreme。 Not know knowing： faulty
Only faulting faults is faultless。
The Sage is faultless
By faulting faults；
And so is without fault。
72
When people are not in awe of power； Power becomes great。
Do not intrude into their homes； Do not make their lives weary。 If you do not weary them； They will not becoem weary of you。
Therefore the Sage Has self…knowledge without self…display； Self…love without personal pride； Rejects one； accepts the other。
73
Courage to dare kills； Courage not to dare saves。 One brings profit； one brings harm。
Of these two； one is good； and one is harmful。 Some are not favored by heaven。 Who knows why？ Even the wise consider it a difficult question。
Heaven hates what it hates … Who knows why！ Even the Sage finds it difficult。 Heaven's Tao does not contend But prevails； Does not speak； But responds； Is not summoned； But arrives； Is utterly still； But plans all actions。
Heaven's net is wide； wide； Loose … But nothing slips through。
74
If people do not fear death； How dare you threaten them with death？
But if people with a normal fear of death Are about to do something vicious； And I could seize and execute them； Who would dare？
There is always an official executioner。 Trying to take the executioner's place； Is like trying to replace a master woodworker … Few would not slice their own hands。
75
People are hungry。 When rulers tax grain People are hungry。
People are rebellious。 When rulers are active People are rebellious。
People ignore death。 When searching only for life's bounty People ignore death。 Only those who do not strive after life Truly respect life。
76
Humans are born soft and weak。 They die stiff and strong。
The ten thousand plants and trees Are born soft tender； And die withered and sere。
The stiff and strong Are Death's companions The soft and weak Are Life's companions。
Therefore the strongest armies do not conquer； The greatest trees are cut down。
The strong and great sink down。 The soft and weak rise up。
77
Heaven's Tao Is a stretched bow； Pulling down on the top Pulling up on the bottom。
If it's too much； cut。 If it's not enough； Add on to it： Heaven's Tao。
The Human Route Is not like this； Depriving the poor； Offering to the rich。 Who has a surplus And still offers it to the world？ Only those with Tao。
Therefore the Sage Acts and expects nothing； Accomplishes and does not linger； Has no desire to seem worthy。
78
Nothing in the world is soft and weak as water。 But when attacking the hard and strong Nothing can conquer so easily。
Weak overcomes strong； soft overcomes hard。 Everyone knows this； no one attains it。
Therefore the Sage says： Accept a country's filth And become master of its sacred soil。 Accepts country's ill fortune And become king under heaven。 True words resemble their opposites。
79
Appears great hatred sand hatred will remain。 How can this be good？
Therefore the Sage Holds the tally But does not judge people。
Those who have Te Control the tally。 Those who lack Te Collect their due。
Heaven has no favourites But endures in good people。
80
Small country； few people … Hundreds of devices； But none are used。 People ponder on death And don't travel far。
They have carriages and boats； But no one goes on board； Weapons and armour； But no one brandishes them。
They use knotted cords for counting。 Sweet is their food； Beautiful their clothes； Peaceful their homes； Delightful their customs。
Neighboring countries are so close You can hear their chickens and dogs。 But people grow old and die Without needing to come and go。
81
Sincere words and not pretty。 Pretty words are not sincere。
Good people do not quarrel。 Quarrelsome people are not good。
The wise are not learned。 The learned are not wise。
The Sa