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67
Everywhere； they say the Way； our doctrine；
Is so very like detested folly；
But greatness of its own alone explains
Why it should be thus held beyond the pale。
If it were only orthodox； long since
It would have seemed a small and petty thing！
I have to keep three treasures well secured：
The first； compassion； next； frugality；
And third； I say that never would I once
Presume that I should be the whole world's chief。
Given compassion； I can take courage；
Given frugality； I can abound；
If I can be the world's most humble man；
Then I can be its highest instrument。
Bravery today knows no compassion；
Abundance is； without frugality；
And eminence without humility：
This is the death indeed of all our hope。
In battle； 'tis compassion wins the day；
Defending； 'tis compassion that is firm：
Compassion arms the people God would save！
68
A skillful soldier is not violent；
An able fighter does not rage；
A mighty conqueror does not give battle；
A great commander is a humble man。
You may call this pacific virtue；
Or say that it is mastery of men；
Or that it is rising to the measure of God；
Or to the stature of the ancients。
69
The strategists have a saying：
〃If I cannot be host；
Then let me be guest。
But if I dare not advance
Even an inch；
Then let me retire a foot。〃
This is what they call
A campaign without a march；
Sleeves up but no bare arms；
Shooting but no enemies；
Or arming without weapons。
Than helpless enemies； nothing is worse：
To them I lose my treasures。
When opposing enemies meet；
The compassionate man is the winner！
70
My words are easy just to understand：
To live by them is very easy too；
Yet it appears that none in all the world
Can understand or make them come to life。
My words have ancestors； my works a prince；
Since none know this； unknown I too remain。
But honor comes to me when least I'm known：
The Wise Man； with a jewel in his breast；
Goes clad in garments made of shoddy stuff。
71
To know that you are ignorant is best；
To know what you do not； is a disease；
But if you recognize the malady
Of mind for what it is； then that is health。
The Wise Man has indeed a healthy mind；
He sees an aberration as it is
And for that reason never will be ill。
72
If people do not dread your majesty；
A greater dread will yet descend on them。
See then you do not cramp their dwelling place；
Or immolate their children or their stock；
Nor anger them by your own angry ways。
It is the Wise Man's way to know himself；
And never to reveal his inward thoughts；
He loves himself but so； is not set up；
He chooses this in preference to that。
73
A brave man who dares to； will kill；
A brave man who dares not； spares life；
And from them both come good and ill；
〃God hates some folks； but who knows why？〃
The Wise Man hesitates there too：
God's Way is bound to conquer all
But not by strife does it proceed。
Not by words does God get answers：
He calls them not and all things come。
Master plans unfold but slowly；
Like God's wide net enclosing all：
Its mesh is coarse but none are lost。
74
The people do not fear at all to die；
What's gained therefore by threatening them with death？
If you could always make them fear decease；
As if it were a strange event and rare；
Who then would dare to take and slaughter them？
The executioner is always set
To slay； but those who substitute for him
Are like would…be master carpenters
Who try to chop as that skilled craftsman does
And nearly always mangle their own hands！
75
The people starve because of those
Above them； who consume by tax
In grain and kind more than their right。
For this； the people are in want。
The people are so hard to rule
Because of those who are above them；
Whose interference makes distress。
For this； they are so hard to rule。
The people do not fear to die；
They too demand to live secure：
For this； they do not fear to die。
So they； without the means to live；
In virtue rise above those men
Who value life above its worth。
76
Alive； a man is supple； soft；
In death； unbending； rigorous。
All creatures； grass and trees； alive
Are plastic but are pliat too；
And dead； are friable and dry。
Unbending rigor is the mate of death；
And wielding softness； company of life：
Unbending soldiers get no victories；
The stiffest tree is readiest for the ax。
The strong and mighty topple from their place；
The soft and yielding rise above them all。
77
Is not God's Way much like a bow well bent？
The upper part has been disturbed； pressed down；
The lower part is raised up from its place；
The slack is taken up； the slender width
Is broader drawn； for thus the Way of God
Cuts people down when they have had too much；
And fills the bowls of those who are in want。
But not the way of man will work like this：
The people who have not enough are spoiled
For tribute to the rich and surfeited。
Who can benefit the world
From stored abundance of his own？
He alone who has the Way；
The Wise Man who can act apart
And not depend on others' whims；
But not because of his high rank
Will he succeed； he does not wish
To flaunt superiority。
78
Nothing is weaker than water；
But when it attacks something hard
Or resistant； then nothing withstands it；
And nothing will alter its way。
Everyone knows this； that weakness prevails
Over strength and that gentleness conquers
The adamant hindrance of men； but that
Nobody demonstrates how it is so。
Because of this the Wise Man says
That only one who bears the nations shame
Is fit to be its hallowed lord；
That only one who takes upon himself
The evils of the world may be its king。
This is paradox。
79
How can you think it is good
To settle a grievance too great
To ignore； when the settlement
Surely evokes other piques？
The Wise Man therefore will select
The left…hand part of contract tallies：
He will not put the debt on other men。
This virtuous man promotes agreement；
The vicious man allots the blame。
〃Impartial though the Way of God may be；
It always favors good men。〃
80
The ideal land is small
Its people very few；
Where tools abound
Ten times or yet
A hundred…fold
Beyond their use；
Where people die
And die again
But never emigrate；
Have boats and carts
Which no one rides。
Weapons have they
And armor too；
But none displayed。
The folk returns
To use again
The knotted chords。
Their meat is sweet；
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