按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
e people of themselves remain simple。
58
Adaptation to Change
Whose government is unostentatious； quite unostentatious； his people will be prosperous； quite prosperous。 Whose government is prying； quite prying； his people will be needy； quite needy。
Misery； alas！ rests upon happiness。 Happiness； alas！ underlies misery。 But who foresees the catastrophe？ It will not be prevented！
What is ordinary becomes again extraordinary。 What is good becomes again unpropitious。 This bewilders people； and it happens constantly since times immemorial。
Therefore the holy man is square but not sharp； strict but not obnoxious； upright but not restraining； bright but not dazzling。
59
Hold Fast to Reason
To govern the people is the affair of heaven and there is nothing like thrift。
Now consider that thrift is said to come from early practice。
By early practice it is said that we can accumulate an abundance of virtue。 If one accumulates an abundance of virtue then there is nothing that can not be overcome。
When nothing can not be overcome then no one knows his limit。 When no one knows his limit one can have possession of the commonwealth。
Who has possession of the commonwealth's mother ＇thrift＇ may last and abide。
This is called the possession of deep roots and of a staunch stem。 To life； to everlastingness； to comprehension； this is the way。
60
How to Maintain One's Place
Govern a great country as you would fry small fish： ＇neither gut nor scale them。＇
If with Reason the empire is managed； its ghosts will not spook。 Not only will its ghosts not spook； but its gods will not harm the people。 Not only will its gods not harm the people； but neither will its holy men harm the people。 Since neither will do harm； therefore their virtues will be combined。
61
The Virtue of Humility
A great state； one that lowly flows； becomes the empire's union； and the empire's wife。
The wife always through quietude conquers her husband； and by quietude renders herself lowly。
Thus a great state through lowliness toward small states will conquer the small states； and small states through lowliness toward great states will conquer great states。
Therefore some render themselves lowly for the purpose of conquering； others are lowly and therefore conquer。
A great state desires no more than to unite and feed the people； a small state desires no more than to devote itself to the service of the people； but that both may obtain their wishes； the greater one must stoop。
62
Practise Reason
The man of Reason is the ten thousand creatures' refuge； the good man's wealth； the bad man's stay。
With beautiful words one can sell。 With honest conduct one can do still more with the people。
If a man be bad； why should he be thrown away？ Therefore； an emperor was elected and three ministers appointed； but better than holding before one's face the jade table ＇of the ministry＇ and riding with four horses； is sitting still and propounding the eternal Reason。
Why do the ancients prize this Reason？ Is it not； say； because when sought it is obtained and the sinner thereby can be saved？ Therefore it is world…honored。
63
Consider Beginnings
Assert non…assertion。
Practise non…practice。
Taste the tasteless。
Make great the small。
Make much the little。
Requite hatred with virtue。
Contemplate a difficulty when it is easy。 Manage a great thing when it is small。
The world's most difficult undertakings necessarily originate while easy； and the world's greatest undertakings necessarily originate while small。
Therefore the holy man to the end does not venture to play the great； and thus he can accomplish his greatness。
Rash promises surely lack faith； and many easy things surely involve in many difficulties。
Therefore； the holy man regards everything as difficult； and thus to the end encounters no difficulties。
64
Mind the Insignificant
What is still at rest is easily kept quiet。 What has not as yet appeared is easily prevented。 What is still feeble is easily broken。 What is still scant is easily dispersed。
Treat things before they exist。 Regulate things before disorder begins。 The stout tree has originated from a tiny rootlet。 A tower of nine stories is raised by heaping up ＇bricks of＇ clay。 A thousand miles' journey begins with a foot。
He that makes mars。 He that grasps loses。
The holy man does not make； therefore he mars not。 He does not grasp； therefore he loses not。 The people when undertaking an enterprise are always near completion； and yet they fail。
Remain careful to the end as in the beginning and you will not fail in your enterprise。
Therefore the holy man desires to be desireless； and does not prize articles difficult to obtain。 He learns； not to be learned； and seeks a home where multitudes of people pass by。
He assists the ten thousand things in their natural development； but he does not venture to interfere。
65
The Virtue of Simplicity
The ancients who were well versed in Reason did not thereby enlighten the people； they intended thereby to make them simple…hearted。
If people are difficult to govern； it is because they are too smart。 To govern the country with smartness is the country's curse。 To govern the country without smartness is the country's blessing。 He who knows these two things is also a model ＇like the ancients＇。 Always to know the model is called profound virtue。
Spiritual virtue； verily； is profound。 Verily； it is far…reaching。 Verily； it is to everything reverse。 But then it will procure great recognition。
66
Putting Oneself Behind
That rivers and oceans can of the hundred valleys be kings is due to their excelling in lowliness。 Thus they can of the hundred valleys be the kings。
Therefore the holy man； when anxious to be above the people； must in his words keep underneath them。 When anxious to lead the people； he must with his person keep behind them。
Therefore the holy man dwells above； but the people are not burdened。 He is ahead； but the people suffer no harm。
Therefore the world rejoices in exalting him and does not tire。 Because he strives not； no one in the world will strive with him。
67
The Three Treasures
All in the world call me great； but I resemble the unlikely。 Now a man is great only because he resembles the unlikely。 Did he resemble the likely； how lasting； indeed； would his mediocrity be！
1 have three treasures which I cherish and prize。 The first is called compassion。 The second is called economy。 The third is called not daring to come to the front in the world。
The compassionate can be brave； the economical can be generous； those who dare not come to the front in the world can become perfect as chief vessels。
Now； if people discard compassion and are brave； if they discard economy and are generous； if they discard modesty and are ambitious； they will surely die。
Now； the compassionat