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are people as well； so any battle is entered into gravely。 Do not wish them personal harm。 Do not rejoice in victory。 Who would rejoice in the killing of men？ Conduct a war as you would a funeral； it is a time of mourning。 Weep for your enemy as you would for your friend。
32
The Tao is not big； but it contains all。 If a father could follow the Tao； the children will be naturally compliant。 Everything will be in perfect accord； and life will be sweet。 If you create laws； you create lawlessness。 If you trust the people the law will be written on their hearts。 When you name something； you create division。 Institutions are created to serve a common purpose。 When the purpose is served they are no longer needed。 Know when to stop to avoid conflicts。 Everything flows into the Tao； as all rivers flow into the ocean。
33
With intellect； you have knowledge of others。 Enlightened there is no self。 With force you can master others。 By yielding you master the Tao。 In striving to accumulate wealth； you become poor。 In accepting what you have； you become rich。 Do only what needs to be done and relax。 If you accept death； you will live in eternity。
34
The Tao flows constantly like a river。 All things arise in it； but are not separate。 It brings about the natural sequence of things； but makes no effort。 It nourishes the whole universe； but claims no reward。 Everything relies on it； but it does not rely on anything。 All things come and go； but it alone is； that is its greatness。 It has no desire to be great； so its greatness is complete。
35
The master being at one with the Tao doesn抰 feel threatened when in danger。 Even if surrounded by misery he is perfectly peaceful。 People are excited by the sound of music or the taste of food。 But they find words which try to point out the Tao flavourless。 If you try to look for it； it cannot be seen。 If you try to listen for it； it cannot be heard。 Experience it； and it never ceases。
36
For something to expand； first it must shrink。 To strengthen something； first it must be weakened。 To raise something； first it must be lowered。 To receive something； first you must give。 This subtlety can be seen in all matters。 The soft overcomes the hard。 The subtle penetrates the obvious。 Keep your inner development a secret； and the results will be clear。
37
The Tao never does anything； yet there is nothing it doesn抰 do。 If a father instills this virtue into his being； the children will be transformed by themselves； in accordance with their nature。 Following their nature； their contentment is total and no desires would arise。 When no desire arises； bliss and tranquility abide。
38
The master needs no satisfaction； so his acts are always pure。 An ordinary man demands satisfaction； so his acts are always tainted。 The master is not a doer； so nothing is to be done。 An ordinary man is a doer； so many things need doing。 A man who tries to do the right thing creates more problems。 A man who tries to do the moral thing will use force。 If people can抰 act naturally； they may try to be good。 If they can抰 be good； they may try to be moral。 If they can抰 be moral； they may try to be fair。 If they can抰 be fair they will conform。 Conformity appears to be politeness and sincerity； but is really the realm of confusion and folly。 The master dwells in the depths of reality。 He considers the use of occult powers as foolishness。 The miracle is the flower。 The Tao is the fruit。 Dwell in the fruit； for nourishment can only be found there。
39
The Tao is not separate from mind； body and spirit。 But mind； body and spirit can separate from the Tao。 A clear mind and you are as open as the sky。 A healthy body and you are as vital as the earth。 A free spirit and you are bound to nothing。 A mind which is divided by thoughts lacks clarity。 A body which indulges the senses becomes ill。 A spirit which is chained to the world will break。 The master serves his mind； body and spirit all they require； and asks not a thing in return。 With no will of his own； the Tao leads him to an unknown destination。 How could this not be the greatest journey of man？
40
All things return to the Tao。 The Tao yields to receive them all。 Everything appears to be something。 Something arises out of nothing。
41
One； who upon hearing of the Tao is immediately transformed； is superior。 One； who upon hearing of the Tao； half doubts it； is average。 One； who upon hearing of the Tao laughs at it； is inferior。 If fools didn抰 scoff at it； it wouldn抰 be great。 Thus it is said： Light seems to arise out of darkness。 To go forward appears to be going in reverse。 To be simple seems complicated。 Real compassion seems harsh。 Real strength seems weak。 The unchanged seems to change。 Great love seems indifferent。 The master seems like a fool。 The Tao is nothing； but through it everything is。
42
The Tao gave birth to the universe。 The universe gave birth to the earth。 The earth gave birth to man。 Man gave birth to everything。 Everything is experience； but receives a name。 There is total harmony when name and experience combine。 An ordinary man seeks a name in the eyes of others； but at their expense。 The master experiences for himself。 A violent man will not enjoy a natural death。
43
The softest overcomes the hardest； by yielding。 Emptiness can enter where there is no space。 The value of non…action is in acting naturally。 Therefore the master teaches of what is beyond words。 And his acts carry no expectations。
44
Is fame more important than living？ Is money more important than happiness？ What do you consider success or failure？ Fame fulfils the lives of others。 Happiness cannot be bought。 Living is a celebration of the way things are。 Happiness is wanting no more。
45
Although things appear imperfect； herein lies their perfection。 Fullness appears empty； herein lies its fullness。 That which is straight appears bent。 The wise appear foolish。 The talented appear unskilled。 That which is still appears to move。 By not moving； the master can move into any situation。
46
With the Tao； everything serves a natural creative function。 With man； weapons are made to destroy。 Desire creates fear and violence。 Without desire there is no fear。 Free from fear you are eternal。
47
You cannot go anywhere to experience the Tao。 It can only be experienced here。 The more knowledge you have； the less you know。 The master knows without knowledge； and sees without eyes。 Without thinking of success is his eternal success。
48
You learn something everyday through knowledge。 You unlearn something everyday experiencing the Tao。 Unlearn more and more until you know。 Then there is no doer； thus nothing to do。 Doing nothing； let things take their natural course。 Try to do something and you will miss。
49
The master has no fixed ideas； but accepts whatever comes his way。 His is an unbending trust in existence； so he treats all the same。 He trusts that a good man is doing the right thing。 He also trusts that a bad man is doing the right thing。 He keeps his trust a secret； knowing oth