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horses are bred in the common。
No greater sin than yielding to desire。 No greater misery than discontent。 No greater calamity than greed。
Therefore； he who knows content's content is always content。
47
Viewing the Distant
〃Without passing out of the gate
The world's course I prognosticate。
Without peeping through the window
The heavenly Reason I contemplate。
The further one goes；
The less one knows。〃
Therefore the holy man does not travel； and yet he has knowledge。 He does not see things； and yet he defines them。 He does not labor； and yet he completes。
48
Forgetting Knowledge
He who seeks learnedness will daily increase。 He who seeks Reason will daily diminish。 He will diminish and continue to diminish until he arrives at non…assertion。
With non…assertion there is nothing that he cannot achieve。 When he takes the empire； it is always because he uses no diplomacy。 He who uses diplomacy is not fit to take the empire。
49
Trust in Virtue
The holy man has not a heart of his own。 The hundred families' hearts he makes his heart。
The good I meet with goodness； the bad I also meet with goodness； that is virtue's goodness。 The faithful I meet with faith； the faithless I also meet with faith； that is virtue's faith。
The holy man dwells in the world anxious； very anxious in his dealings with the world。 He universalizes his heart； and the hundred families fix upon him their ears and eyes。 The holy man treats them all like children。
50
The Estimation of Life
Abroad in life； home in death。
There are thirteen avenues of life； there are thirteen avenues of death； on thirteen avenues men that live pass unto the realm of death。
Now； what is the reason？ It is because they live life's intensity。
Yea； I understand that one whose life is based on goodness； when traveling on land will not fall a prey to the rhinoceros or the tiger。 When coming among soldiers； he need not fear arms and weapons。 The rhinoceros finds no place wherein to insert its horn。 The tiger finds no place wherein to put his claws。 Weapons find no place wherein to thrust their blades。 The reason is that he does not belong to the realm of death。
51
Nursing Virtue
Reason quickens all creatures。 Virtue feeds them。 Reality shapes them。 The forces complete them。 Therefore among the ten thousand things there is none that does not esteem Reason and honor virtue。
Since the esteem of Reason and the honoring of virtue is by no one commanded； it is forever spontaneous。
Therefore it is said that Reason quickens all creatures； while virtue feeds them； raises them； nurtures them； completes them； matures them； rears them； and protects them。
To quicken but not to own； to make but not to claim； to raise but not to rule； this is called profound virtue。
52
Returning to the Origin
When the world takes its beginning； Reason becomes the world's mother。
As one knows his mother； so she in turn knows her child； as she quickens her child； so he in turn keeps to his mother； and to the end of life he is not in danger。 Who closes his mouth； and shuts his sense…gates； in the end of life he will encounter no trouble； but who opens his mouth and meddles with affairs； in the end of life he cannot be saved。
Who beholds his smallness is called enlightened。 Who preserves his tenderness is called strong。 Who uses Reason's light and returns home to its enlightenment does not surrender his person to perdition。 This is called practising the eternal。
53
Gaining Insight
If I have ever so little knowledge； I shall walk in the great Reason。 It is but expansion that I must fear。
The great Reason is very plain； but people are fond of by…paths。
When the palace is very splendid； the fields are very weedy and granaries very empty。
To wear ornaments and gay clothes； to carry sharp swords； to be excessive in drinking and eating； to have a redundance of costly articles； this is the pride of robbers。
Surely； this is un…Reason。
54
The Cultivation of Inituition
〃What is well planted is not uprooted；
What's well preserved can not be looted！〃
By sons and grandsons the sacrificial celebrations shall not cease。
Who cultivates Reason in his person； his virtue is genuine。
Who cultivates it in his house； his virtue is overflowing。
Who cultivates it in his township； his virtue is lasting。
Who cultivates it in his country； his virtue is abundant。
Who cultivates it in the world； his virtue is universal。
Therefore；
By one's person one tests persons。
By one's house one tests houses。
By one's township one tests townships。
By one's country one tests countries。
By one's world one tests worlds。
How do I know that the world is such？ Through IT。
55
The Signet of the Mysterious
He who possesses virtue in all its solidity is like unto a little child。
Venomous reptiles do not sting him； fierce beasts do not seize him。 Birds of prey do not strike him。 His bones are weak； his sinews tender； but his grasp is firm。 He does not yet know the relation between male and female； but his virility is strong。 Thus his metal grows to perfection。 A whole day he might cry and sob without growing hoarse。 This shows the perfection of his harmony。
To know the harmonious is called the eternal。 To know the eternal is called enlightenment。
To increase life is called a blessing； and heart…directed vitality is called strength； but things vigorous are about to grow old and I call this un…Reason。
Un…Reason soon ceases！
56
The Virtue of the Mysterious
One who knows does not talk。 One who talks does not know。 Therefore the sage keeps his mouth shut and his sense…gates closed。
〃He will blunt his own sharpness； His own tangles adjust； He will dim his own radiance； And be one with his dust。〃
This is called profound identification。
Thus he is inaccessible to love and also inaccessible to enmity。 He is inaccessible to profit and inaccessible to loss。 He is also inaccessible to favor and inaccessible to disgrace。 Thus he becomes world…honored。
57
Simplicity in Habits
With rectitude one governs the state； with craftiness one leads the army； with non…diplomacy one takes the empire。 How do I know that it is so？ Through IT。
The more restrictions and prohibitions are in the empire； the poorer grow the people。 The more weapons the people have； the more troubled is the state。 The more there is cunning and skill； the more startling events will happen。 The more mandates and laws are enacted； the more there will be thieves and robbers。
Therefore the holy man says： I practise non…assertion； and the people of themselves reform。 I love quietude； and the people of themselves become righteous。 I use no diplomacy； and the people of themselves become rich。 I have no desire； and the people of themselves remain simple。
58
Adaptation to Change
Whose government