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ake； while some lower themselves to gather。 A great state wishes nothing more than to have and keep many people； and a small state wishes nothing more than to get more things to do。 When the two both mean to obtain their wishes； the greater one should lower itself。
62
Tao is the source of all things； the treasure of good men； and the sustainer of bad men。
Therefore at the enthronement of an emperor and the appointment of the three ministers； better still than those who present jewels followed by horses； is the one who sitting presents （propounds） this Tao。 Why did the ancients prize this Tao？ Was it not because it could be attained by seeking and thus the sinners could be freed？ For this reason； it has become the most valuable thing in the world。
Good words will procure one honour； good deeds will get one credit。
63
Act non…action； undertake no undertaking； taste the tasteless。
The Sage desires the desireless； and prizes no articles that are difficult to get。
He learns no learning； but reviews what others have passed through。
Thus he lets all things develop in their own natural way； and does not venture to act。
Regard the small as the great； regard the few as many。
Manage the difficult while they are easy；
Manage the great while they are small。
All difficult things in the world start from the easy。
All the great things in the world start from the small。
The tree that fills a man's arms arises from a tender shoot。
The nine…storied tower is raised from a heap of earth；
A thousand miles' journey begins from the spot under one's feet。
Therefore the Sage never attempts great things； and thus he can achieve what is great。
He who makes easy promises will seldom keep his word；
He who regards many things as easy will find many difficulties。
Therefore the Sage regards things as difficult； and consequently never has difficulties。
64
What is motionless is easy to hold；
What is not yet foreshadowed is easy to form plans for；
What is fragile is easy to break；
What is minute is easy to disperse。
Deal with a thing before it comes into existence；
Regulate a thing before it gets into confusion。
The common people in their business often fail on the verge of succeeding。
Take care with the end as you do with the beginning；
And you will have no failure。
65
In olden times the best practitioners of Tao did not use it to awaken people to knowledge；
But used it to restore them to simplicity。
People are difficult to govern because they have much knowledge。
Therefore to govern the country by increasing the people's knowledge is to be the destroyer of the country；
To govern the country by decreasing knowledge is to be the blesser of the country。
To be acquainted with these two ways is to know the standard；
To keep the standard always in mind is to have sublime virtue。
Sublime virtue is infinitely deep and wide。
It goes to reverse all things；
And so it attains perfect peace。
66
As Tao is to the world； so are streams and valleys to the rivers and seas。
Rivers and seas can be kings to all valleys because the former can well lower themselves to the latter。
Thus they become kings to all valleys。
Therefore the Sage； in order to be above the people； must in words keep below them；
In order to be ahead of the people； he must in person keep behind them。
Thus when he is above； the people do not feel his burden；
When he is ahead； the people do not feel his hinderance。
Therefore all the world is pleased to hold him in high esteem and never get tired of him。
Because he does not compete； therefore no one competes with him。
67
All the world says to me： 'Great as Tao is； it resembles no description （form）。' Because it is great； therefore it resembles no description。 If it resembled any description it would have long since become small。
I have three treasures； which I hold and keep safe：
The first is called love；
The second is called moderation；
The third is called not venturing to go ahead of the world。
Being loving； one can be brave；
Being moderate； one can be ample；
Not venturing to go ahead of the world； one can become the chief of all officials。
Instead of love； one has only bravery；
Instead of moderation； one has only amplitude；
Instead of keeping behind； one goes ahead：
These lead to nothing but death。
For he who fights with love will win the battle；
He who defends with love will be secure。
Heaven will save him； and protect him with love。
68
The best soldier is not soldierly；
The best fighter is not ferocious；
The best conqueror does not take part in war；
The best employer of men keeps himself below them。
This is called the virtue of not contending；
This is the ability of using men；
This is called the supremacy of consorting with heaven。
69
An ancient tactician has said：
'I dare not act as a host； but would rather act as a guest；
I dare not advance an inch； but would rather retreat a foot。'
This implies that he does not marshal the ranks as if there were no ranks；
He does not roll up his sleeves as if he had no arms；
He does not seize as if he had no weapons；
He does not fight as if there were no enemies。
No calamity is greater than under…estimating the enemy。
To under…estimate the enemy is to be on the point of losing our treasure （love）。
Threfore when opposing armies meet in the field the ruthful will win。
70
Words have an ancestor； deeds have a governor。
My words are very easy to know； and very easy to practise；
Yet all men in the world do not know them nor practise them。
It is because they have knowledge that they do not know me。
When those who know me are few； eventually I am beyond all praise。
Therefore the Sage wears clothes of coarse cloth but carries jewels in his bosom；
He knows himself but does not display himself；
He loves himself but does not hold himself in high esteem。
Thus he rejects the latter and takes the former。
71
Not knowing that one knows is best；
Thinking that one knows when one does not know is sickness。
Only when one becomes sick of the sickness can one be free from sickness。
The sage is never sick； because he is sick of this sickness； therefore he is not sick。
72
If the people have no fear of their ruling authority； still greater fear will come。
Be sure not to give them too narrow a dwelling；
Nor make their living scanty。
Only when their dwelling place is no longer narrow will their dissatisfaction come to an end。
73
He who shows courage in daring will perish；
He who shows courage in not…daring will live。
To know these two is to distinguish the one； benefit； from the other； harm。
Who can tell that one of them should be loathed by Heaven？
The Tao of heaven does not contend yet it surely wins the victory。
It does not speak； yet it surely r