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This is doing without doing； teaching without a text
And the only way to learn to do it
Is to learn not to do anything else
44
Fame or your health； riches or your health； which is worth more to you？
Can you gain one without losing the other？
Live the high life and you will lose respect； whatever you gain inenvy
Be a miser and you will lose affection； whatever you gain in respect
If you want respect； know when you have enough
If you want peace of mind； know when to stop
Understand 'enough' and you'll live healthy and long
45
What's done right seems unfinished； but always works
What's filled right seems empty； but there's always enough
The perfectly straight seems warped
The most skilled looks artless
The greatest eloquence sounds plain
What exists in abundance always seems unremarkable
We move to warm ourselves and rest to cool ourselves
But never think about the natural warmth that lies within us
Always flow back to the center； find what strengths lie there
And things will go right with you
46
When the world has the way； people do what the want
When it loses the way； they are forced to do what they're told
There is no greater crime than wanting too much
No disaster more total than not knowing when to stop
No flaw more serious than the grasping hand
Know what enough is； know when you have it； and be content
That is wisdom
47
If you know where you are； you know the world
You do not need to look out a window to see the tao
The more you look； the less you really see
So the taoist stays and lets things come to him
Sees things without looking for them
Finishes things by not trying to make them complete
48
To practice most things means to gain a little skill；every day
To practice the tao means to lose a little
Lose a little of this and a little of that until one has no skill leftat anything
And then nothing will ever be left undone
If you want to lead； forget what leadership should be
If you can't forget the shoulds
You will always find someone to oppose you
49
The taoist has no opinions
He simply listens； and acts
He treats those who are good as worthy
He treats those who aren't good as worthy； too
And so he finds their goodness
He gives those who are honorable his trust
He gives those who are dishonorable his trust； too
And so he gains their trust
50
We all come out into life and go back into death
There are certain signs that point to life and certain signs that pointto death
And yet people； in their desire to show they are alive
Often cultivate the signs of death
Those who cultivate the signs of life have no fear in them
They don't run from wild animals or cover themselves with armor andshields
They know the horn； the claw； the weapon
Can not pierce what yields and flows like water
They do not cultivate the signs of death； and so death has no placeto enter
51
Tao brings all the creatures of the world to be born
And by following the way they come to fill their nature
Thus do they follow the tao and honor virtue
No one asks them to；？they do it without thinking
It creates them but doesn't own them
It supplies them but doesn't make them dependent
It matures them but doesn't command them
This is the ideal of virtue
52
What womb gave birth to the world？
Know that mother and you will come to understand her children
Embrace her and you will never suffer harm
Block up the holes； close the doors
Do without doing； and you will never labor
Open the doors； intrude yourself on the world
Act with force； and your troubles will not end
See the smallest signs； bend at their lightest touch
And let the subtlest rays lead you
Back to the bright light
53
When you follow the tao； planning will only lead you astray
The way is easy and straight； but people always look for shortcuts
They leave weeds in the fields to make sure the courtyard is clean
Empty their cupboards so that everyone can gorge
Carry a sword so they can wear their jewels in public
One excess always leads to another
This wanders far from the way
54
When the foundation is laid well； and the mortar sound
The house will stand long
And your descendents will honor your memory
Cultivate virtue in yourself … see yourself … so it will be genuine
Cultivate it in your family … see your family … so it will spread
Cultivate it in your village … see your village … so it will have roots
Cultivate it in your nation … see your nation … so it will be abundant
Cultivate it in the world … see the world … so there will be nothingelse
How do I know the world works this way？
There is no how； I listen； and I know
55
One who embraces virtue in its fullest
Is like a newborn babe
She has no fear of wasps and scorpions； or snakes and vipers
Birds of prey and fierce beasts mean nothing to him
Her bones and muscles are soft； but her grip is firm
Because his essence is at its height he can become aroused
Though he knows nothing of sex
Because her harmony is at its height she will not become hoarse
Though she screams all day
Harmony is the path of wisdom
But you can't reach it be getting more
You can try to breathe more； but what sense is in that？
Eventually your breath will return to what it is
If you look for more； you'll get as much as you can
And after that you'll just get old
An easy way to an early end
56
How can you speak of things that go beyond words？
The wise know when not to talk
They blocks up their holes
Close their doors
Soften their light
Settle their dust
Blunt their rough edges
Untie their knots
This is oneness
Whoever achieves it
Can never be known intimately but will never be shunned
Can never be benefited but will never be harmed
57
It has been said of good leaders
'Peace is won by doing the expected； war by doing the unexpected'
But to lead by following the way you must let expectations go
Prohibitions only protect one by depriving another
Weapons only defend one by assaulting another
No amount of knowledge will ever substitute for wisdom
No amount of laws can ever replace honor
When you lead by following the way； remember
If you do nothing； people will transform themselves
If you remain quiet； people will have nothing to be confused about
Don't play the angles； and prosperity will be the norm
Don't impose your desires； and no one will conform or rebel
58
Government is only sincere when it has no end in mind
Let it be discriminating and clear； and it will be cunning and sly
It uses disaster to create its own good fortune
Uses good fortune to conceal the disasters it creat