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However magnificent the view； he sits quiet and dispassionate？
How much less； then； must be the lord of ten thousand chariots
Allow himself to be lighter than these he rules！
If he is light； the foundation is lost；
If he is active； the lord and master is lost。
27
Perfect activity leaves no track behind it；
Perfect speech is like a jade…worker whose tool leaves no mark。
The perfect reckoner needs no counting…slips；
The perfect door has neither bolt nor bar；
Yet cannot be opened。
The perfect knot needs neither rope nor twine；
Yet cannot be united。
Therefore the Sage
Is all the time in the most perfect way helping men；
He certainly does not turn his back on men；
Is all the time in the most perfect way helping creatures；
He certainly does not turn his back on creatures。
This is called resorting to the Light。
Truly； 搕he perfect man is the teacher of the imperfect；
But the imperfect is the stock…in…trade of the perfect man？
He who does not respect his teacher；
He who does not take care of his stock…in…trade；
Much learning through he may possess； is far astray。
This is the essential secret。
28
揌e who knows the males； yet cleaves to what is female
Because like a ravine； receiving all things under heaven；？br》 And being such a ravine
He knows all the time a power that he never calls upon in vain。
This is returning to the state of infancy。
He who knows the white； （yet cleaves to the black
Becomes the standard by which all things are tested；
And being such a standard
He has all the time a power that never errs；
He returns to the Limitless。
He who knows glory；） yet cleaves to ignominy
Become like a valley that receives into it all things under heaven；
And being such a valley
He has all the time a power that suffices；
He returns to the state of the Uncarved Block。
Now when a block is sawed up it is made into implements；
But when the Sage uses it； it becomes Chief of all Ministers。
Truly； 揟he greatest carver does the least cutting？
29
Those that would gain what is under heaven by tampering with it …
I have seen that they do not succeed。
For that which is under heaven is like a holy vessel； dangerous to tamper with。
Those that tamper with it； harm it。
Those that grab at it； lose it。
For among the creatures of the world some go in front； some follow；
Some blow hot when others would be blowing cold。
Some are feeling vigorous just when others are worn out。
Therefore the Sage 揹iscards the absolute； the all…inclusive； the extreme？
30
He who by Tao purposes to help a ruler of men
Will oppose all conquest by force of arms；
For such things are wont to rebound。
Where armies are； thorn and brambles grow。
The raising of a great host
Is followed by a year of dearth。
Therefore a good general effects his purpose and then stops； he does not take further advantage of his victory。
Fulfils his purpose and does not glory in what he has done；
Fulfils his purpose and does not boast of what he has done；
Fulfils his purpose； but takes no pride in what he has done；
Fulfils his purpose； but only as a step that could not be avoided。
Fulfils his purpose； but without violence；
For what has a time of vigour also has a time of decay。
This is against Tao；
And what is against Tao will soon perish。
31
Fine weapons are none the less ill…omened things。
（People despise them； therefore；
Those in possession of the Tao do not depend on them。）
That is why； among people of good birth；
In peace the left…hand side is the place of honour；
But in war this is reversed and the right…hand side is the place of honour。
（Weapons are ill…omened things； which the superior man should not depend on。
When he has no choice but to use them；
The best attitude is to retain tranquil and peaceful。）
The Quietist； even when he conquers； does not regard weapons as lovely things。
For to think them lovely means to delight in them；
And to delight in them means to delight in the slaughter of men。
And he who delights in the slaughter of men
Will never get what he looks for out of those that dwell under heaven。
（Thus in happy events；
The left…hand side is the place of honour； in grief and mourning；
The right…hand is the place of honour。
The lieutenant general stands on the left；
While the supreme general stands on the right；
Which is arranged on the rites of mourning。）
A host that has slain men is received with grief and mourning；
He that has conquered in battle is received with rites of mourning。
32
Tao is eternal； but has no fame （name）；
The Uncarved Block； though seemingly of small account；
Is greater than anything that is under heaven。
If kings and barons would but possess themselves of it；
The ten thousand creatures would flock to do them homage；
Heaven…and…earth would conspire
To send Sweet Dew；
Without law or compulsion； men would dwell in harmony。
Once the block is carved； there will be names；
And so soon as there are names；
Know that it is time to stop。
Only by knowing when it is time to stop can danger be avoided。
To Tao all under heaven will come
As streams and torrents flow into a great river or sea。
33
To understand others is to have knowledge；
To understand oneself is to be illumined。
To conquer others needs strength；
To conquer oneself is harder still。
To be content with what one has is to be rich。
He that works through violence may get his way；
But only what stays in its place
Can endure。
When one dies one is not lost； there is no other longevity。
34
Great Tao is like a boat that drifts；
It can go this way； it can go that。
The ten thousand creatures owe their existence to it and it does not disown them；
Yet having produced them； it does not take possession of them。
Makes no claim to be master over them；
（And asks for nothing from them。）
Therefore it may be called the Lowly。
The ten thousand creatures obey it；
Though they know not that they have a master；
Therefore it is called the Great。
So too the Sage just because he never at any time makes a show of greatness
In fact achieves greatness。
35
He who holding the Great From goes about his work in the empire
Can go about his； yet do no harm。
All is peace； quietness and security。
Sound of music； smell of good dishes
Will make the passing stranger pause。
How difference the words that Tao gives forth！
So thin； so flavourless！
If one looks for Tao； there is nothing solid to see；
If one listens for it； there is nothing loud enough to hear。
Yet if one uses it； it is inexhaustible。
36
What is in the end to be shrunk
Must first be stretched。
Whatever is to be weakened
Must begin by being made strong。
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