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The secret of long life and lasting vision。
60
RULING a big kingdom is like cooking a small fish。
When a man of Tao reigns over the world； demons
have no spiritual powers。 Not that the demons have no
spiritual powers； but the spirits themselves do no harm
to men。 Not that the spirits do no harm to men； but the
Sage himself does no harm to his people。 If only the
ruler and his people would refrain from harming each
other； all the benefits of life would accumulate in the
kingdom。
61
A GREAT country is like the lowland toward which all
streams flow。 It is the Reservoir of all under heaven；
the Feminine of the world。 The Feminine always conquers the Masculine by her
quietness； by lowering herself through her quietness。 Hence； if a great country can lower itself before a
small country； it will win over the small country； and if a
small country can lower itself before a great country； it
will win over the great country。 The one wins by
stooping； the other； by remaining low。 What a great country wants is simply to embrace
more people； and what a small country wants is simply
to come to serve its patron。 Thus； each gets what it
wants。 But it behooves a great country to lower itself。
62
THE Tao is the hidden Reservoir of all things。
A treasure to the honest； it is a safeguard to the erring。
A good word will find its own market。
A good deed may be used as a gift to another。
That a man is straying from the right path
Is no reason that he should be cast away。
Hence； at the Enthronement of an Emperor；
Or at the Installation of the Three Ministers；
Let others offer their discs of jade； following it up with teams of horses；
It is better for you to offer the Tao without moving your feet！
Why did the ancients prize the Tao？
Is it not because by virtue of it he who seeks finds；
And the guilty are forgiven？
That is why it is such a treasure to the world。
63
DO the Non…Ado。
Strive for the effortless。
Savour the savourless。
Exalt the low。
Multiply the few。
Requite injury with kindness。
Nip troubles in the bud。
Sow the great in the small。
Difficult things of the world
Can only be tackled when they are easy。
Big things of the world
Can only be achieved by attending to their small beginnings。
Thus； the Sage never has to grapple with big things；
Yet he alone is capable of achieving them！
He who promises lightly must be lacking in faith。
He who thinks everything easy will end by finding everything difficult。
Therefore； the Sage； who regards everything as difficult；
Meets with no difficulties in the end。
64
WHAT is at rest is easy to hold。
What manifests no omens is easily forestalled。
What is fragile is easily shattered。
What is small is easily scattered。
Tackle things before they have appeared。
Cultivate peace and order before confusion and disorder have set in。
A tree as big as a man's embrace springs from a tiny sprout。
A tower nine stories high begins with a heap of earth。
A journey of a thousand leagues starts from where your feet stand。
He who fusses over anything spoils it。
He who grasps anything loses it。
The Sage fusses over nothing and therefore spoils nothing。
He grips at nothing and therefore loses nothing。
In handling affairs； people often spoil them just at the point of success。
With heedfulness in the beginning and patience at the end； nothing will be spoiled。
Therefore； the Sage desires to be desireless；
Sets no value on rare goods；
Learns to unlearn his learning；
And induces the masses to return from where they have overpassed。
He only helps all creatures to find their own nature；
But does not venture to lead them by the nose。
65
IN the old days； those who were well versed in the
practice of the Tao did not try to enlighten the
people； but rather to keep them in the state of simplicity。
For； why are the people hard to govern？ Because they
are too clever！ Therefore； he who governs his state
with cleverness is its malefactor； but he who governs
his state without resorting to cleverness is its
benefactor。 To know these principles is to possess a
rule and a measure。 To keep the rule and the measure
constantly in your mind is what we call Mystical
Virtue。 Deep and far…reaching is Mystical Virtue！ It
leads all things to return； till they come back to Great
Harmony！
66
HOW does the sea become the king of all streams？
Because it lies lower than they！
Hence it is the king of all streams。
Therefore； the Sage reigns over the people by humbling himself in speech；
And leads the people by putting himself behind。
Thus it is that when a Sage stands above the people； they do not feel the heaviness of his weight；
And when he stands in front of the people； they do not feel hurt。
Therefore all the world is glad to push him forward without getting tired of him。
Just because he strives with nobody；
Nobody can ever strive with him。
67
ALL the world says that my Tao is great； but seems
queer； like nothing on earth。 But it is just because
my Tao is great that it is like nothing on earth！ If it were
like anything on earth； how small it would have been
from the very beginning！
營 have Three Treasures； which I hold fast and watch
over closely。 The first is Mercy。 The second is Frugality。
The third is Not Daring to Be First in the World。 Because
I am merciful； therefore I can be brave。 Because I am
frugal； therefore I can be generous。 Because I dare not
be first； therefore I can be the chief of all vessels。
營f a man wants to be brave without first being
merciful； generous without first being frugal； a leader
without first wishing to follow； he is only courting
death！
燤ercy alone can help you to win a war。 Mercy alone
can help you to defend your state。 For Heaven will
come to the rescue of the merciful； and protect him
with its Mercy。
68
A GOOD soldier is never aggressive；
A good fighter is never angry。
The best way of conquering an enemy
Is to win him over by not antagonising him。
The best way of employing a man
Is to serve under him。
This is called the virtue of non…striving！
This is called using the abilities of men！
This is called being wedded to Heaven as of old！
69
THE strategists have a saying： I dare not be a host； but rather a guest； I dare not advance an inch； but rather retreat a foot。
This is called marching without moving；
Rolling up one's sleeves without baring one's arms；
Capturing the enemy without confronting him；
Holding a weapon that is invisible。
There is no greater calamity than to under…estimate the strength of your enemy。
For to under…estimate the strength of your enemy is