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And； since it was beyond men's full understanding；
Only some of it has come down to us； as in these sayings：
'Alert as a winter…farer on an icy stream；'
'Wary as a man in ambush；'
'Considerate as a welcome guest；'
'Selfless as melting ice；'
'Green as an uncut tree；
'Open as a valley；'
And this one also； 'Roiled as a torrent；
Why roiled as a torrent？
Because when a man is in turmoil how shall he find peace
Save by staying patient till the stream clears？
How can a man's life keep its course
If he will not let it flow？
Those who flow as life flows know
They need no other force：
They feel no wear； they feel no tear；
They need no mending； no repair。
16
Be utterly humble
And you shall hold to the foundation of peace。
Be at one with all these living things which； having arisen and flourished；
Return to the quiet whence they came；
Like a healthy growth of vegetation
Falling back upon the root。
Acceptance of this return to the root has been called 'quietism；'
Acceptance of quietism has been condemned as 'fatalism。'
But fatalism is acceptance of destiny
And to accept destiny is to face life with open eyes；
Whereas not to accept destiny is to face death blindfold。
He who is open…eyed is open…minded…
He who is open…minded is open…hearted；
He who is open…hearted is kingly；
He who is kingly is godly；
He who is godly is useful；
He who is useful is infinite；
He who is infinite is immune；
He who is immune is immortal。
17
A leader is best
When people barely know that he exists；
Not so good when people obey and acclaim him；
Worst when they despise him。
'Fail to honor people；
They fail to honor you；'
But of a good leader； who talks little；
When his work is done； his aim fulfilled；
They will all say； 'We did this ourselves。'
18
When people lost sight of the way to live
Came codes of love and honesty；
Learning came； charity came；
Hypocrisy took charge；
When differences weakened family ties
Came benevolent fathers and dutiful sons；
And when lands were disrupted and misgoverned
Came ministers commended as loyal。
19
Rid of formalized wisdom and learning
People would be a hundredfold happier；
Rid of conventionalized duty and honor
People would find their families dear；
Rid of legalized profiteering
People would have no thieves to fear。
These methods of life have failed； all three；
Here is the way； it seems to me：
Set people free；
As deep in their hearts they would like to be；
From private greeds
And wanton needs。
20
Leave off fine learning！ End the nuisance
Of saying yes to this and perhaps to that；
Distinctions with how little difference！
Categorical this； categorical that；
What slightest use are they！
If one man leads； another must follow；
How silly that is and how false！
Yet conventional men lead an easy life
With all their days feast days；
A constant spring visit to the Tall Tower；
While I am a simpleton； a do…nothing；
Not big enough yet to raise a hand；
Not grown enough to smile；
A homeless； worthless waif。
Men of the world have a surplus of goods；
While I am left out； owning nothing。
What a booby I must be
Not to know my way round；
What a fool！
The average man is so crisp and so confident
That I ought to be miserable
Going on and on like the sea；
Drifting nowhere。
All these people are making their mark in the world；
While I； pig…headed； awkward；
Different from the rest；
Am only a glorious infant still nursing at the breast。
21
The surest test if a man be sane
Is if he accepts life whole； as it is；
Without needing by measure or touch to understand
The measureless untouchable source
Of its images；
The measureless untouchable source
Of its substances；
The source which； while it appears dark emptiness；
Brims with a quick force
Farthest away
And yet nearest at hand
From oldest time unto this day；
Charging its images with origin：
What more need I know of the origin
Than this？
22
'Yield and you need not break：'
Bent you can straighten；
Emptied you can hold；
Torn you can mend；
And as want can reward you
So wealth can bewilder。
Aware of this； a wise man has the simple return
Which other men seek：
Without inflaming himself
He is kindled；
Without explaining himself
Is explained；
Without taking credit
Is accredited；
Laying no claim
Is acclaimed
And； because he does not compete；
Finds peaceful competence。
How true is the old saying；
'Yield and you need not break'！
How completely it comes home！
23
Nature does not have to insist；
Can blow for only half a morning；
Rain for only half a day；
And what are these winds and these rains but natural？
If nature does not have to insist；
Why should man？
It is natural too
That whoever follows the way of life feels alive；
That whoever uses it properly feels well used；
Whereas he who loses the way of life feels lost；
That whoever keeps to the way of life
Feels at home；
Whoever uses it properly
Feels welcome；
Whereas he who uses it improperly
Feels improperly used：
'Fail to honor people；
They fail to honor you。
24
Standing tiptoe a man loses balance；
Walking astride he has no pace；
Kindling himself he fails to light；
Acquitting himself he forfeits his hearers；
Admiring himself he does so alone。
Pride has never brought a man greatness
But； according to the way of life；
Brings the ills that make him unfit；
Make him unclean in the eyes of his neighbor；
And a sane man will have none of them。
25
Before creation a prescience existed；
Self…contained； complete；
Formless； voiceless； mateless；
Changeless；
Which yet pervaded itself
With unending motherhood。
Though there can be no name for it；
I have called it 'the way of life。'
Perhaps I should have called it 'the fullness of life；'
Since fullness implies widening into space；
Implies still further widening；
Implies widening until the circle is whole。
In this sense
The way of life is fulfilled；
Heaven is fulfilled；
Earth fulfilled
And a fit man also is fulfilled：
These are the four amplitudes of the universe
And a fit man is one of them：
Man rounding the way of earth；
Earth rounding the way of heaven；
Heaven rounding the way of life
Till the circle is full。
26
Gravity is the root of grace；
The mainstay of all speed。
A traveler of true means； whatever the day's pace；
Remembers the provision…van
And； however fine prospect be offered； is a man
With a calm head。
What lord of countles