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Those who pursue their business in Reason； men of Reason； associate in Reason。 Those who pursue their business in virtue associate in virtue。 Those who pursue their business in ill luck associate in ill luck。 When men associate in Reason； Reason makes them glad to find companions。 When men associate in virtue； virtue makes them glad to find companions。 When men associate in ill luck； ill luck makes them glad to find companions。
〃If your faith is insufficient； verily shall ye receive no faith。〃
24
Trouble From Indulgence
One on tiptoe is not steady；
One astride makes no advance。
Seff…displayers are not enlightened；
Self…asserters lack distinction；
Self…approvers have no merit；
And self…seekers stunt their lives。
Before Reason this is like surfeit of food； it is like a wen on the body with which people are apt to be disgusted。
Therefore the man of reason will not indulge in it。
25
Imaging the Mysterious
There is a Being wondrous and complete。 Before heaven and earth； it was。 How calm it is！ How spiritual！
Alone it standeth； and it changeth not； around it moveth； and it suffereth not； yet therefore can it be the world's mother。
Its name I know not； but its nature I call Reason。
Constrained to give a name； I call it the great。 The great I call the departing； and the departing I call the beyond。 The beyond I call home。
The saying goes： 〃Reason is great； heaven is great； earth is great； and royalty also is great。＇There are four things in the world that are great； and royalty is one of them。＇
Man's standard is the earth。 The earth's standard is heaven。 Heaven's standard is Reason。 Reason's standard is intrinsic。
26
The Virtue of Gravity
The heavy is of the light the root； and rest is motion's master。
Therefore the holy man in his daily walk does not depart from gravity。 Although he may have magnificent sights； he calmly sits with liberated mind。
But how is it when the master of the ten thousand chariots in his personal conduct is too light for the empire？ If he is too light he will lose his vassals。 If he is too passionate he will lose the throne。
27
The Function of Skill
〃Good travelers leave no trace nor track；
Good speakers； in logic show no lack；
Good counters need no counting rack。
〃Good lockers bolting bars need not；
Yet none their locks can loose。
Good binders need no string nor knot；
Yet none unties their noose。〃
Therefore the holy man is always a good saviour of men； for there are no outcast people。 He is always a good saviour of things； for there are no outcast things。 This is called applied enlightenment。
Thus the good man does not respect multitudes of men。 The bad man respects the people's wealth。 Who does not esteem multitudes nor is charmed by their wealth； though his knowledge be greatly confused； he must be recognized as profoundly spiritual。
28
Returning to Simplicity
〃Who his manhood shows
And his womanhood knows
Becomes the empire's river。
Is he the empire's river；
He will from virtue never deviate；
And home he turneth to a child's estate。
〃Who his brightness shows
And his blackness knows
Becomes the empire's model。
Is he the empire's model；
Of virtue ne'er shall he be destitute；
And home he turneth to the absolute。
〃Who knows his fame
And guards his shame
Becomes the empire's valley。
Is he the empire's valley；
For e'er his virtue will sufficient be；
And home he turneth to simplicity。〃
Simplicity； when scattered； becomes a vessel of usefulness。 The holy man； by using it； becomes the chief leader； and truly； a great principle will never do harm。
29
Non…Assertion
When one desires to take in hand the empire and make it； I see him not succeed。 The empire is a divine vessel which cannot be made。 One who makes it； mars it。 One who takes it； loses it。
And it is said of beings：
〃Some are obsequious； others move boldly；
Some breathe warmly； others coldly；
Some are strong and others weak；
Some rise proudly； others sneak。〃
Therefore the holy man abandons excess； he abandons extravagance； he abandons indulgence。
30
Be Chary of War
He who with Reason assists the master of mankind will not with arms strengthen the empire。 His methods invite requital。
Where armies are quartered briars and thorns grow。 Great wars unfailingly are followed by famines。 A good man acts resolutely and then stops。 He ventures not to take by force。
Be resolute but not boastful； resolute but not haughty； resolute but not arrogant； resolute because you cannot avoid it； resolute but not violent。
Things thrive and then grow old。 This is called un…Reason。 Un…Reason soon ceases。
31
Quelling War
Even victorious arms are unblest among tools； and people had better shun them。 Therefore he who has Reason does not rely on them。
The superior man when residing at home honors the left。 When using arms； he honors the right。
Arms are unblest among tools and not the superior man's tools。 Only when it is unavoidable he uses them。 Peace and quietude he holdeth high。
He conquers but rejoices not。 Rejoicing at a conquest means to enjoy the slaughter of men。 He who enjoys the slaughter of men will most assuredly not obtain his will in the empire。
32
The Virtue of Holiness
Reason； in its eternal aspect； is unnamable。
Although its simplicity seems insignificant； the whole world does not dare to suppress it。 If princes and kings could keep it； the ten thousand things would of themselves pay homage。 Heaven and earth would unite in dripping sweet dew； and the people with no one to command them would of themselves be righteous。
As soon as Reason creates order； it becomes namable。 Whenever the namable in its turn acquires existence； one learns to know when to stop。 By knowing when to stop； one avoids danger。
To illustrate Reason's relation to the world we compare it to streams and creeks in their course towards rivers and the ocean。
33
The Virtue of Discrimination
One who knows others is clever； but one who knows himself is enlightened。
One who conquers others is powerful； but one who conquers himself is mighty。
One who knows contentment is rich and one who pushes with vigor has will。
One who loses not his place endures。
One who may die but will not perish； has life everlasting。
34
Trust in its Perfection
How all…pervading is the great Reason！ It can be on the left and it can be on the right。
The ten thousand things depend upon it for their life； and it refuses them not。 When its merit is accomplished it assumes not the name。 Lovingly it nourishes the ten thousand things and plays not the lord。 Ever desireless it can be classed with the small。 The ten thousand things return home to it。 It plays not the lord。 It can be classed with the great。
Therefore
The holy man unto death