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A tower nine stories high begins with a mound of earth。
A journey of a thousand miles begins under one's feet。
To act is to fail。
To grab is to lose。
Therefore the wise do not act and do not fail。
They do not grab and do not lose。
In handling things people usually fail
when they are about to succeed。
Be as careful at the end as at the beginning；
and there will be no failure。
Therefore the wise desire to have no desires。
They do not value rare treasures。
They learn what is unknown；
returning to what many have missed
so that all things may be natural without interference。
65
The ancients who ruled skillfully
did not try to enlighten people but kept them in the dark。
People are hard to lead when they are too clever。
Those who lead with cleverness rob the country。
Those who lead without cleverness bless the country。
Understanding these two is to know the eternal standard。
Knowing the eternal standard is mystical power。
Mystical power is deep and far…reaching；
leading all things to return to perfect harmony。
66
Great rivers and seas are lords of all mountain streams；
because they are good at staying below them。
Therefore they are lords of the streams。
Thus the wise in watching over the people
speak humbly from below the people；
and in leading the people get behind them。
In this way the wise watch over the people
but do not oppress them；
they lead the people but do not block them。
Thus everyone happily goes along without getting tired。
Because they do not compete；
the world cannot compete with them。
67
Everyone says the Way is great and beyond comparison。
Because it is great； it cannot be compared。
If it were compared； it already would have seemed small。
I have three treasures to be maintained and cherished：
the first is love；
the second is frugality；
the third is not pushing oneself ahead of others。
From love comes courage；
from frugality comes generosity；
from not pushing oneself ahead of others comes leadership。
Now courage without love； generosity without frugality；
and leadership by pushing oneself ahead of others are fatal。
For love wins all battles and is the strongest defense。
Heaven gives love to save and protect。
68
The best soldier is not violent。
The best fighter is not angry。
The best winner is not contentious。
The best employer is humble。
This is known as the power of not striving；
as ability in human relations；
and as being in accord with heaven。
69
The strategists say；
〃Do not be the aggressor but the defender。
Do not advance an inch； but retreat a foot instead。〃
This is movement without moving；
stretching the arm without showing it；
confronting enemies with the idea there is no enemy；
holding in the hand no weapons。
No disaster is greater than underestimating the enemy。
Underestimating the enemy will destroy my treasures。
Thus when the battle is joined；
it is the kind who will win。
70
My ideas are easy to understand and easy to practice。
Yet no one understands them or practices them。
My ideas have a source； my actions have a master。
Because people do not understand this； they do not know me。
Since few know me； I am very precious。
Therefore the wise wear coarse clothes
and keep the jewel inside。
71
To know that you do not know is the best。
To think you know when you do not is a disease。
Recognizing this disease as a disease is to be free of it。
The wise are free of disease；
because they recognize the disease as a disease。
Therefore they are free of disease。
72
When people lack a sense of awe；
then something awful will happen。
Do not constrict people's living space。
Do not suppress their livelihoods。
If you do not harass them； they will not harass you。
Therefore the wise know themselves
but do not display themselves。
They love themselves but do not exalt themselves。
They let go of one and accept the other。
73
Those brave in killing will be killed。
Those brave in not killing will live。
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。
The Way of heaven does not strive； yet it wins easily。
It does not speak； yet it gets a good response。
It does not demand； yet all needs are met。
It is not anxious； yet it plans well。
The net of heaven is vast；
its meshes are wide； but nothing slips through。
74
People are not afraid to die。
So why threaten them with death？
If people were afraid of death；
and lawbreakers could be caught and put to death；
who would dare to do so？
There is the Lord of Death who executes。
Trying to do his job
is like trying to cut wood for the Master Carpenter。
Those who try to cut wood for the Master Carpenter
rarely escape injuring their own hands。
75
People are hungry；
because rulers eat too much tax…grain。
That is why people are starving。
People are hard to govern；
because rulers interfere too much。
That is why they are hard to govern。
People do not care about death；
because rulers demand too much of life。
That is why they do not care about death。
Only those who do not interfere with living
are best at valuing life。
76
When people are born； they are tender and supple。
At death they are stiff and hard。
All things； like plants and trees；
are tender and pliant while alive。
At death they are dried and withered。
Therefore the stiff and hard are companions of death。
The tender and supple are companions of life。
Thus strong arms do not win。
A stiff tree will break。
The hard and strong will fall。
The tender and supple will rise。
77
The Way of heaven is like bending a bow。
The high is lowered； the low is raised。
The excessive is reduced； the deficient is increased。
The Way of heaven takes from those who have too much
and gives to those who do not have enough。
The human way is different。
It takes from those who do not have enough
and gives to those who have too much。
Who has more than enough to give to the world？
Only the person of the Way。
Therefore the wise act but do not rely on their own ability。
They accomplish the task but claim no credit。
They have no desire to seem superior。
78
Nothing in the world is softer and weaker than water。
Yet nothing is better at attacking the hard and strong。
There is no substitute for it。
The weak overcomes the strong； the soft overcomes the hard。
Everyone knows this； but no one puts it into practice。
Therefore the wise say；
〃Those who bear the humiliation of the people
are able to minister t