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and honest by themselves。
58
When the government is lazy and dull；
Its people are unspoiled；
When the government is efficient and smart；
Its people are discontented。
Disaster is the avenue of fortune；
（And） fortune is the concealment for disaster。
Who would be able to know its ultimate results？
（As it is）； there would never be the normal。
But the normal would （immediately） revert to the deceitful。
And the good revert to the sinister。
Thus long has mankind gone astray！
Therefore the Sage is square （has firm principles）；
but not cutting （sharp…cornered）；
Has integrity but does not hurt （others）；
Is straight； but not high…handed；
Bright； but not dazzling。
59
In managing human affairs； there is no better rule
than to be sparing。
To be sparing is to forestall；
To forestall is to be prepared and strengthened；
To be prepared and strengthened is to be ever…victorious；
To be ever…victorious is to have infinite capacity；
He who has infinite capacity is fit to rule a country；
And the Mother （principle） of a ruling country can long endure。
This is to be firmly rooted； to have deep strength；
The road to immortality and enduring vision。
60
Rule a big country as you would fry small fish。
Who rules the world in accord with Tao
Shall find that the spirits lose their power。
It is not that the spirits lose their power；
But that they cease to do people harm。
It is not （only） that they cease to do people harm；
The Sage （himself） also does no harm to the people。
When both do not do each other harm；
The original character is restored。
61
A big country （should be like） the delta low…regions；
Being the concourse of the world；
（And） the Female of the world。
The Female overcomes the Male by quietude；
And achieves the lowly position by quietude。
Therefore if a big country places itself below a small country
It absorbs the small country。
（And） if a small country places itself below a big country；
It absorbs the big country。
Therefore some place themselves low to absorb （others）；
Some are （naturally） low and absorb （others）。
What a big country wants is but to shelter
others；
And what a small country wants is but
to be able to
牋牋牋牋 come in and be sheltered。
Thus （considering） that both may have what they want；
A big country ought to place itself low。
62
Tao is the mysterious secret of the universe；
The good man's treasure；
And the bad man's refuge。
Beautiful saying can be sold at the market；
Noble conduct can be presented as a gift。
Though there be bad people；
Why reject them？
Therefore on the crowning of an emperor；
On the appointment of the Three Ministers；
Rather than send tributes of jade and teams of four horses；
Send in the tribute of Tao。
Wherein did the ancients prize this Tao？
Did they not say； 〃to search for the guilty ones and pardon them〃？
Therefore is （tao） the treasure of the world。
63
牋 Accomplish do…nothing。
Attend to no…affairs。
Taste the flavorless。
Whether it is big or small； many or few；
Requite hatred with virtue。
Deal with the difficult while yet it is easy；
Deal wit the big while yet it is small。
The difficult （problems） of the world
Must be dealt with while they are yet easy；
The great （problems） of the world
Must be dealt with while they are yet small。
Therefore the Sage by never dealing with great （problems）
Accomplishes greatness。
He who lightly makes a promise
Will find it often hard to keep his faith。
He who makes light of many things
Will encounter many difficulties。
Hence even the Sage regards things as difficult；
And for that reason never meets with difficulties。
64
That which lies still is easy to hold；
That which is not yet manifest is easy to forestall；
That which is brittle （like ice） easily melts；
That which is minute easily scatters。
Deal with a thing before it is there；
Check disorder before it is rife。
A tree with a full span's girth begins from a tiny sprout；
A nine…storied terrace begins with a clod of earth。
A journey of a thousand li beings at one's feet。
He who acts； spoils；
He who grasps； lets slip。
Because the Sage does not act； he does not spoil；
Because he does not grasp； he does not let slip。
The affairs of men are often spoiled within an ace of
completion。
By being careful at the end as at the beginning
Failure is averted。
Therefore the Sage desires to have no desire；
And values not objects difficult to obtain。
Learns that which is unlearned；
And restores what the multitude have lost。
That he may assist in the course of Nature
And not presume to interfere。
65
The ancients who knew how to follow the Tao
Aimed not to enlighten the people。；
But to keep them ignorant。
The reason it is difficult for the people to leave in peace
Is because of too much knowledge。
Those who seek to rule a country by knowledge
Are the nation's curse。
Those who seek not to rule a country by knowledge
Are the nation's blessing。
Those who know these two （principles）
Also know the ancient standard；
And to know always the ancient standard
Is called the Mystic Virtue。
When the Mystic Virtue becomes clear； far…reaching；
And things revert back （to their source）
Then and then only emerges the Grand Harmony。
66
How did the great rivers and seas become the Lords
of the ravines？
By being good at keeping low。
That was how they became Lords of the Ravines。
Therefore in order to be the chief among the people；
One must speak like their inferiors。
In order to be foremost among the people；
One must walk behind them。
Thus it is that the Sage stays above；
And the people do not feel his weight；
Walks in front；
And the people do not wish him harm。
Then the people of the world are glad to uphold him forever。
Because he does not contend；
No one in the world can contend against him。
67
All the world says： my teaching （Tao） greatly resembles folly。
Because it is great； therefore it resembles folly。
If it did not resemble folly；
It would have long ago become petty indeed！
I have Three Treasures；
Guard them and keep them safe：
the first is Love。
The second is； Never too much。
The third is； Never be the first in the world。
Through Love； one has no fear；
Through not doing too much； one has amplitude
（of reserve power）；
Through not presuming to be the first in the world；
One can develop one's talent and let it mature。
If one forsakes love and fearlessness；
forsakes restraint and reserve power；
forsakes following behind and rushes in front；
He is doomed！
For love is victo